Updating....

AFGHANISTAN

White House Aides: No Afghan Decision Before Thanksgiving -- [Washington Post]
President Obama will not announce his decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan before the Thanksgiving holiday, senior aides said Thursday. The news came as the president greeted 1,500 troops at Osan Air Base in South Korea, just before boarding Air Force One and heading back to Washington after an eight-day trip to Asia.
...Obama arrived on the base 3:19 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) and received a rousing welcome from 1,500 troops in camouflage uniforms, many holding cameras or pointing cellphones to snap pictures.
"You guys make a pretty good photo op," the president said.
Standing on a riser wearing a blue suit and red tie, with a cluster of troops and a large American flag behind him, Obama expressed "the gratitude of the American public" and said his meetings in four countries over eight days in Asia will help deliver a "safer, more prosperous world for all of us."
He got a huge cheer when he told them he was increasing military pay. "That's what you call an applause line," he said, before boarding his jet and taking off at 4:11 p.m.

Light vs. Heavy: Brigade Combat Teams -- [Wings Over Iraq]
While the Obama White House debates the exact troop numbers for the new counterinsurgency strategy, it's safe to say that there will be an increase of around 20,000 to 40,000 additional "combat troops" (definition to follow). While the troop numbers must primarily take into consideration the desired effect in Afghanistan, planners must also take into account one additional factor: how many brigade combat teams we have available. (Based on over 100,000 troops in Iraq and over 60,000 in Afghanistan)

Honoring the fallen -- [FOB Tacoma]
As they left for the mission on Nov. 5, they swept the roads near Jelewar, Afghanistan, for mines. They scanned the area for any wires that could be used to detonate a bomb.
"We thought we did everything right," Lt. Brian Giroux later said.
But in what has become the signature attack in southern Afghanistan, insurgents detonated a bomb underneath their 20-ton Stryker, killing Spc. Aaron Seth Aamot and Spc. Gary Lee Gooch Jr., both 22 years old

Fear Factor -- [Free Range International]
The Problem - In the war on terror, our greatest enemy is our self. Like the company picnic we have become a community of self licking ice cream cones and have forgotten the mission, or more tragically become so self-absorbed in power point success and vertical movement within dysfunctional organizations that champion mediocrity and the status quo. This risk adverse culture has paralyzed the intelligence world and is metastasizing to the military and other government organizations to the point of a terminal diagnosis or paralysis through analysis. Our current senior management (I cannot use the word leadership as that implies the ability to lead and inspire others which if were the case this post would not be necessary)in the military and intelligence services have become a large group of frighten children who put career advancement and self preservation ahead of the mission.

Border Crossings -- [Bouhammer]
After observing approximately 15-20 bad guys cross the Afghan-Pakistan border in the same spot for two nights in a row, I decided to take a squad of Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, my Embedded Tactical Trainer (ETT) NCO, and myself to set up an overnight ambush along their avenue of approach. Now for all of you Monday morning quarterbacks who are already saying to yourself why didn't you set up an ambush after the first night or use mortars, artillery, or even call in air assets to eliminate this threat. Well, those are courses of action that were discussed but other priorities limited our manpower for maneuver capabilities, air coverage wasn't available at the time, and we could only get a few mortar rounds off before the enemy would scurry back across the border into Pakistan and then our hands were tied with the rules of engagement.
As soon as darkness arrived, my squad of 12 ANA soldiers and I moved out towards the pre-determined ambush site.

US Defense Secretary Urges Against Afghan Withdrawal Timeline -- [Voice of America]
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates is urging caution on those who are calling for a timetable for an allied withdrawal from Afghanistan. Among those who have spoken about a "timetable" or an "endgame" in recent days are British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama. It was during a CNN interview this week that President Obama said his eagerly-awaited new Afghanistan strategy will include an "endgame." He said without the "discipline" a plan for ending the conflict would impose, the United States could find itself in "a multi-year occupation" that is not in its interests.

Afghanistan: We will need western troops for another five years, says country's president -- [Daily Record]
HAMID KARZAI was sworn in for a second term as Afghan president yesterday and vowed to make the country safe within five years.
He also pledged to stop foreign security companies operating in the country so that Afghanistan would "control its own security".

ANSF vetting -- [Embedded in Afghanistan... - in Afghanistan]
It's always disturbing to hear news of Coalition trainers being turned on by their trainees. When you hear of an incident like the one a couple of weeks ago where the five Brits were killed by one of their trainees, it certainly makes you wonder how feasible the end strategy of training more and more Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF...an umbrella term to cover the ANA, ANP, Border Police, and other security agencies within Afghanistan) is. Thankfully, such incidents are rare, but with more and more ANSF out there, we're bound to start seeing more of this. To significantly increase the size of the ANP and ANA they are going to have continue lowering the already low standards for recruits...many are essentially conscripts already.
Currently...

Karzai Sworn In for Second Term as President -- [New York Times]
Tainted by a flawed election and allegations of festering corruption in his government, President Hamid Karzai was inaugurated Thursday for a second term, promising to remedy the country's problems and to have the Afghan Army assume full control of security within five years. Speaking in Dari and Pashto, Mr. Karzai reached out to the country's two largest ethnic groups as well as to his defeated political rivals in a speech at a midday ceremony at the presidential palace. Above all, his address seemed aimed at the United States and other Western allies,...

ISAF + COIN Academy -- [Charlie Simpson's War - in Afghanistan]
Not a lot to report here. Yesterday all the roads were closed due to Karzai's inauguration. So we were confined to the compound all day.

Afghans Want Obama to Hold Karzai's Feet to the Fire -- [Los Angeles Times]
On Afghanistan's independence day in August, my friends in Kandahar were puzzled. Why was the government bothering to celebrate the holiday? With 100,000 or so foreign troops occupying our country, how could we consider ourselves independent? When my American friends and professors ask me if I think the United States should send additional troops to Afghanistan, I tell them yes, but only if the resources are distributed on the condition that the Afghan government cleans up its act. This often causes bewilderment on their part. "But Afghanistan is a sovereign state," they invariably reply. "How can the United States interfere in Afghanistan's domestic politics?" In fact, as my friends noted on "independence" day, Afghanistan is not at this point a sovereign state.

Profile: Abdul the Jingle Truck Driver -- [Sgt Danger - in Afghanistan]
I've been leading a gun crew on these security missions for some five months now, and have a pretty good grasp on the concept. I've had very unique experiences: adjusting to the intense summer heat, the mad downtown traffic, the boredom of miles of dirt road, and the stress of constant enemy lookout. But the our local jingle truck drivers are going through a hell of a time too. What is it like for them? On our last mission - we got back to yesterday, after four days on the road - I asked our interpreter to introduce me to one of the drivers. Papa J, as we call him, said, "I know the guy."

Heading home -- [Desert Bound - in Afghanistan]
Well, over the past month, I havn't been able to get access to my blog. As I said before, the internet here is lacking. They are still trying to get MWR computers/phones setup, but it still looks like it's another month out. I'll try and post at least one more detailed wrap-up of my time here, but my six month tour has finally come to an end. It's been great getting to know everyone that found comfort and encouragement through my postings.

Improvements in Afghan Governance Will Take Time, Gates Says -- [Defense Link]
Improving the quality and professionalism of Afghanistan's central government will not be accomplished quickly, and will involve continued discussion between US and Afghan officials, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. "My view on all this is that improvements in governance in Afghanistan will be evolutionary," said Gates, in response to a Pentagon reporter's question on the possibility the United States could link the amount of assistance it provides the Afghan government through its performance in rooting out alleged corruption. Newly re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pledged that he will fight government corruption.

Mullen: Talks Favor Broad Afghanistan Solution -- [Defense Link]
President Barack Obama's security team recognizes troops alone aren't the answer as it begins wrapping up strategy deliberations about the way ahead in Afghanistan, the top military officer said today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the talks are nearing their conclusion, predicting that Obama will announce his decision "in the near future." Mullen told participants in the National Guard Bureau's Joint Senior Leadership Conference that he's satisfied by the depth and breadth of the discussions as the team addresses the challenges in Afghanistan and makes recommendations to the president.

Italy Remains a 'Determined' Ally -- [Washington Times]
Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, the newly appointed Italian ambassador to the United States, objected to the term "war" to describe the conflict in Afghanistan, but he said Italy had dropped restrictions that had kept its troops away from the fighting. In an interview with editors and reporters at The Washington Times Thursday, Mr. Terzi said that Afghanistan is a key component of Italian foreign policy. He said Western involvement in Afghanistan could best be described as "peacekeeping" instead of war, because it has been mandated by the UN Security Council.

To Succeed in Afghanistan, We Must Fail -- [Los Angeles Times]
Afghan President Hamid Karzai's inauguration today will be a somber affair. Gray storm clouds are slowly replacing the blue skies, and the sour tang of charcoal smoke hangs in the air. The mood among the internationals here is similarly gloomy. So many conversations end with the scratching of heads, with the tacit admission that no idea that has come forward has been big enough to reverse the Afghan government's steady loss of control. This is not because of the flawed elections or the ghastly killing of foreigners. That's all bad, but it's not doomsday. Nearly two years ago, I heard the distant rumbles, like thunder, of the attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul, which killed seven people. The Afghan government's legitimacy was being questioned then too, and urgent reforms demanded - without practical result. Two elections had already happened and were marred by fraud. We have been here before, and survived. No, what is depressing about the situation in Afghanistan is not that it has suddenly gotten much worse but that it steadily fails to get better.

Taliban Chief Hides Among Pakistan Populace -- [Washington Times]
Mullah Mohammed Omar, the one-eyed leader of the Afghan Taliban, has fled a Pakistani city on the border with Afghanistan and found refuge from potential US attacks in the teeming Pakistani port city of Karachi with the assistance of Pakistan's intelligence service, three current and former US intelligence officials said. Mullah Omar, who hosted Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders when they plotted the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, had been residing in Quetta, where the Afghan Taliban shura - or council - had moved from Kandahar after the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Why the Pakistan Army Won't Fight Afghanistan's Taliban -- [TIME]
In return, he reportedly offered a range of fresh incentives, "including enhanced intelligence sharing and military cooperation.

IRAQ

Expecting the unexpected -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
In Balad with Task Force 38's medevac unit, Company C, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. Typically, the unit flies routine missions pick up patients, medical supplies, doctors and nurses from outlying bases and bring them to Balad. The patients come to Balad for a higher level of care - surgery or evaluation such as an MRI. Some are staged there for transport to an even higher echelon of care at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
The crews must be prepared at all times to ...

Iraq Sentences Sunni Leader to Death -- [New York Times]
A leader of a Sunni Awakening Council was sentenced to death for kidnapping and murder on Thursday, setting off charges that the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government was trying to weaken the Sunni movement, which is credited with much of the reduction of sectarian violence here since 2006. The Sunni leader, Adil al-Mashhadani, who led the Awakening militia in the impoverished Fadhil neighborhood of Baghdad, was arrested in March on charges of terrorism. His arrest set off 24 hours of fighting between Awakening members and American and Iraqi security forces, ...

Iraq's Election Law Morass -- [New York Times]
Iraqis have quickly learned to play hardball politics. That was evident on Wednesday when one of Iraq's two vice presidents, Tariq al-Hashimi, who is a Sunni, vetoed an important election law at the last minute. He demanded a change that would allocate more parliamentary seats for Iraqi Sunnis living abroad. It is unquestionably better for Iraq's political leaders to wage their battles through legislative maneuvering than in the streets. But their repeated delays in completing the election law (there have been nearly a dozen attempts) threatens their fragile constitutional system as well as the American military withdrawal. And it could provoke new violence.

New View of Samarra -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes - in Iraq]
In the lexicon of Iraq, few words carry as much meaning as Samarra.
This city on the Tigris river north of Baghdad was the source of the sectarian slaughter of 2006 and 2007 and the scene of some the most violent fire fights of the same era.
Even as late as 2008, it was city to be by-passed when traveling north or south on Highway 1. The city is peaceful enough now, but still struggling with an identity crisis. It is a Sunni city but home of a holy Shia shrine that draws millions of pilgrims a year.

Who Flies That Blackhawk? The Whole Story -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
Task Force Diablo is based in Pennsylvania but includes units and soldiers from across the nation. Because National Guard soldiers bring a variety of life and work experiences with them on deployment, even the smallest unit can include soldiers with a surprising array of skills and experience. In September Alaska-based, Charlie 1-52nd MEDEVAC needed a crew for the chase bird for a routine flight to two of their remote sites. Alpha 1-106th from Illinois supplied a crew for a Pennsylvania 1-150th Blackhawk helicopter. The four soldiers who comprised the Illinois crew on a Pennsylvania helicopter following an Alaska MEDEVAC show how different the members of a four-man unit can be.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

US Talks Tougher on Dealing With Iran -- [Wall Street Journal]
The international spokesman for Iran's main opposition movement called for President Barack Obama to increase his public support for Iranian democrats and significantly intensify financial pressure on Tehran's elite military unit, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, during an unofficial visit to Washington, also said Thursday that Iranian opposition leaders supported US efforts to use diplomacy to contain the nuclear ambitions of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government.

Get Ready to Bomb Iran -- [Washington Times]
Representatives from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia are scheduled to meet today in Brussels to discuss future steps to dissuade Iran from developing the capacity to build nuclear weapons. Our message to the world leaders: If you want peace, prepare for war. President Obama said yesterday that the international community intends to send a "clear message" to Iran. Unfortunately, Iran has clearly gotten the message already: It has nothing to fear.

Japan wants US military base out of Okinawa -- [PRESS TV]
Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama says he will devise a plan to relocate the US military airfield based in Okinawa as soon as possible.

N. Korea Among Topics of Discussion as Obama Wraps up Asia Tour -- [Washington Post]
With none of the tension presented by a rising China and a willful Japan, President Obama's visit to South Korea on Thursday was short, congenial in substance and splendid in form. Ending a sometimes bumpy week-long tour of East Asia, Obama said the welcoming ceremony in Seoul - a glorious, sun-drenched mingling of music, flags and traditional garb - was the "most spectacular" he has seen in his travels. In his talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whose right-of-center government has embraced political cooperation with the United States, Obama also found much to his liking.

An Anti-pirate Policy that Works -- [Washington Times]
Merchant ships need guns to fight pirates. Seven months ago, Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama and held its captain hostage. Pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama again this week but were repulsed because the Maersk Shipping Line put armed guards on its ships. Pirates successfully attacked another unarmed ship on Monday, leaving 28 members of its crew dead. On Tuesday, 36 crew members of a Spanish ship were released only after pirates were paid a $3.3 million ransom. But when the pirates got within 300 yards of the Maersk Alabama, the ship tried evasive maneuvers and its security team successfully engaged in small-arms fire. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney of the US Naval Forces Central Command said the actions of the Maersk Alabama were following the maritime industry's "best practices."

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Major Hasan's E-Mail: 'I Can't Wait to Join You' in Afterlife -- [ABC News]
United States Army Major Nidal Hasan told a radical cleric considered by authorities to be an al-Qaeda recruiter, "I can't wait to join you" in the afterlife, according to an American official with top secret access to 18 e-mails exchanged between Hasan and the cleric, Anwar al Awlaki, over a six month period between Dec. 2008 and June 2009.
Intercepted e-mails deemed innocent by the FBI detail possible terror relations.
More Photos"It sounds like code words," said Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, a military analyst at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies.

Air Defense Push Inspired by 9/11 Gets a 2nd Look -- [New York Times]
The commander of military forces protecting North America has ordered a review of the costly air defenses intended to prevent another Sept. 11-style terrorism attack, an assessment aimed at determining whether the commitment of jet fighters, other aircraft and crews remains justified. Senior officers involved in the effort say the assessment is to gauge the likelihood that terrorists may succeed in hijacking an airliner or flying their own smaller craft into the United States or Canada. The study is focused on circumstances in which the attack would be aimed not at a public building or landmark but instead at a power plant or a critical link in the nation's financial network, like a major electrical grid or a computer network hub.

Arrests in Chicago Drive Home Global Nature of Terrorism Threat - [Washington Post]
David C. Headley, a peripatetic Chicagoan accused of scouting potential terrorism targets in India and plotting to kill two Danish journalists, was not always David C. Headley. Until 2006, he was Daood Gilani, but he told investigators he had changed his name to raise less suspicion when he traveled abroad. He lived anonymously in an apartment leased in the name of a dead person. He changed e-mail accounts often and spoke in code on the telephone. The strategy worked less than perfectly, according to the FBI, which arrested him on terrorism charges last month at O'Hare International Airport on the first leg of a trip to Pakistan.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Linda's "Blanket Ladies" -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Readers of this blog are familiar with Linda Ferrara and her Blanket Ladies. There are many more than pictured here, including one group called the Sunshine Club. The groups meet regularly to make blankets for the patients coming through Landstuhl.
So they were very excited recently when they spotted one of their blankets in the longer version of the video in the story here about the 86th CASF

Show of Support Surprises Heroes -- [NewsWest 9]
MIDLAND - West Texans gave heroes a big welcome. Several injured troops flew in to the Tall City this week and on Thursday, the streets were packed with folks from across the Basin who came to say thanks. The 6th Annual Show of Support banquet filled up the Horseshoe Arena.
25 injured troops rode into the Tall City for the Show of Support celebration - each bringing with them a unique background

BART will offer free tickets for military members -- [KGO-TV]
Beginning in 2010, BART will offer free $50 tickets to active duty military personnel who are in the Bay Area on leave from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan

Community teams up to support troops -- [South Carolina Now]
"I wanted to lift their spirits, to make them feel good about not being able to be home with their families," Johnson said.
With the help of many volunteers and local business donations Johnson has finished 116 care packages to send overseas.
One of Johnson's neighbors did a fundraiser at work to help get items for the care packages. "When she backed her car up to my door there was just so much stuff it scared me. Donations kept coming we kind of got slow a minute here and fast a minute there. I wish I could do it over again, I would love to do it over again," Johnson said.

MILITARY

Military experiment seeks to predict PTSD -- [KFDA]
(AP) - A military experiment in California is meant to try to predict who's most at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. Earlier this year, a quarterly

Positive Petraeus Lessons -- [Washington Times]
The essence of counterinsurgency strategy (COIN), integral to defeating Sept. 11, 2001-type extremists infecting various Middle East countries, is building confidence among the population. The key is working hand-in-glove with the respective military and civilian authorities to help stabilize their combustible nations so they might be free of the specter of extremist violence, thereby enabling the buildup of family, community and nation, according to each culture's unique and beautiful character. This new, irregular warfare is fought largely on human terrain, about which Gen. David H. Petraeus has written in the COIN bible, ...

Pentagon Launches Review of Fort Hood Shooting -- [Defense Link]
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today announced the Defense Department will conduct a broad review of the Nov. 5 Fort Hood, Texas, shooting that left 13 dead and dozens injured. Former Army Secretary Togo West and retired Navy Adm. Vernon Clark, former chief of naval operations, will head the initial 45-day review, which will inform a follow-on investigation expected to last four to six months. "The shootings at Fort Hood raise a number of troubling questions that demand complete but prompt answers," Gates said during a Pentagon briefing. "It is prudent to determine immediately whether there are internal weaknesses or procedural shortcomings in the department that could make us vulnerable in the future." The department review is separate from both the criminal investigation of Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan

Army Lacks Guide on Jihadists in Ranks -- [Washington Times]
The Army has guidelines on how to deal with racist views and actions within the ranks, but none on how to deal with Islamic jihadism, a former Army vice chief of staff told Congress on Thursday. Retired Army Gen. John M. Keane said this absence of guidance fostered a politically correct reluctance to investigate the man accused in the Fort Hood shootings, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. A military pamphlet created after the 1995 racially motivated shootings at Fort Bragg is the intended guidebook on how to deal with extremist activities and prohibited conduct but is mostly focused on white supremacist behavior, Gen. Keane told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the first congressional oversight hearing on the Fort Hood shootings. "Clearly we don't have specific guidelines in dealing with jihadist extremists," Gen. Keane told the Senate homeland security committee.

WELCOME HOME

Army captain welcomed home from Iraq -- [Citrus Daily]
A well-deserved Hero's Welcome was observed for Capt. Eric Evans from his recent tour of duty from the "Iraqi Theater of Operations". The welcome home

THE MEDIA

Fearing Obama-bashing, Army limits media access to Palin event at Fort Bragg -- [Hot Air]
The AP and a local paper put up a fuss so the base relented and is now granting limited access -- provided that neither Palin herself nor anyone else there is interviewed. They're not worried about Sarahcuda, I don't think; hopefully, she's disinclined to bash the C-in-C in front of a military audience. They're worried about conservative troops chattering with each other about politics, getting worked up, and then being roped in by reporters eager for an anti-Obama quote or two to prove that the right-wingers in the military hate America or whatever.

POLITICS

Poll: Majority Of Republicans Think Obama Didn't Actually Win 2008 Election -- ACORN Stole It! -- [TPM]
The new national poll from Public Policy Polling (D) has an astonishing number about paranoia among the GOP base: Republicans do not think President Obama actually won the 2008 election -- instead, ACORN stole it.

Just there to burnish his image? Obama tells troops 'You guys make a pretty good photo op' -- [Examiner]
Are American soldiers risking their lives in defense of...well, of whatever the heck they're fighting for in Iraq and Afghanistan worth only a good photo opportunity for American Presidents.
...No, of course not. Who would make such a bad joke?
Probably just an attempt at a making a funny by the President, but like his 'You're likable enough, Hillary' barb that fell flat, this President just is not a funnyman. In fact, his jokes tend to be the exact opposite of funny if not just straight-up offensive.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

Boondoggle -- [3rd Time, New Country - in Afghanistan]
I know I am a little late on posting to my blog, but I returned from a boondoggle out to Mazar-e-Sharif in the Northern provinces. I even have some pictures to post with this entry. First, let me recap last week. We did make a normal trip to NDS. It was actually a clear, cool morning which is a rarity here in Kabul. The pollution is so thick that it is very rare to see the distant mountains. So, here is a picture of the snow-capped mountains, west of Kabul. This picture was taken last Monday. I haven't seen the mountains since. Other than that, it was a normal week of mentoring. There are always little things to work on and improve in the OT. Friday was another violent day here in Kabul. The Taliban used a SVBIED outside Camp Phoenix a little before 0800. There were no American casualties, but there were injuries.

Clinton in Kabul for Karzai's inauguration -- [Foreign Policy - AfPak]
U.S. President Barack Obama reportedly told CNN today that he is "very close" to making a decision about whether to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and plans to make an announcement "in the next several weeks," after more than two months of deliberations (Reuters, Reuters). Obama is reportedly angry about the stream of leaks that has come out about his Afghanistan decision, telling CBS, "For people to be releasing info in the course of deliberations is not appropriate" and said yes when asked if that is a "firing offense" (CBS, Politico). Meanwhile

The war of leaks -- [Foreign Policy - AfPak]
The Obama Administration's social media prowess has been a novelty among latter day political media machines. It helped to crowd-source the campaign funding needed to put Barack Obama in the White House, and generated a populist gloss that was, at the time, convincingly fresh and transparent. What was equally admirable was its apparent internal discipline over when information made the transition from government secret to press release. Controlling the flow of data and keeping secrets secret is a challenge under any circumstance. Combine that with a predilection for Facebook and Twitter, and a hyperactive security officer might expect policy waters to muddy more quickly than they would under normal circumstances.
So when U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry's expressed his "discomfort" last week over a possible troop surge, via diplomatic cable to Washington, it's no wonder that the message ended up dominating headlines.

Ridding Afghanistan of Corruption Will Be No Easy Task -- [Los Angeles Times]
Afghans have a name for the huge, gaudy mansions that have sprung up in Kabul's wealthy Sherpur neighborhood since 2001. They call them "poppy palaces." The cost of building one of these homes, which are adorned with sweeping terraces and ornate columns, can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many are owned by government officials whose formal salaries are a few hundred dollars a month. To the capital's jaded residents, there are few more potent symbols of the corruption that permeates every level of Afghan society, from the traffic policemen who shake down motorists to top government officials and their relatives who are implicated in the opium trade.

Afghan Minister Accused of Taking Bribe -- [Washington Post]
The Afghan minister of mines accepted a roughly $30 million bribe to award the country's largest development project to a Chinese mining firm, according to a US official who is familiar with military intelligence reports. The allegation, if proved true, would mark one of the most brazen examples of corruption yet disclosed in a country where the problem has become so pervasive that it is now at the heart of Obama administration doubts over Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reliability as a partner.

Vision for Victory, Part I -- [Washington Times]
The news from Afghanistan all year has been dispiriting, and the last few weeks have been especially tough in terms of the violence. Yet most foreign and Afghan officials and officers who I encountered on a recent weeklong visit sponsored by the U. military are guardedly optimistic about our prospects. How can this be so?

U.S. Turns to Local Guns-for-Hire to Guard Afghan Outpost -- [Danger Room - Noah Shachtman]
The U.S. military is turning to guns-for-hire to guard one of its outposts in Afghanistan. But Blackwaters of the world, take note: simply hiring former G.I.s or American cops or even Nepalese Gurkhas won't do the trick this time. At least half of the 50-man force has to come "from within a 50 kilometer radius" of the base, according to a contract solicitation issued by the U.S. Air Force. Over the summer, the American military signaled its interest in hiring an army of contractors to help handle security at as many as 50 outposts in Afghanistan. It's one of several efforts efforts designed to free up uniformed troops for combat and counterinsurgency work. Now, U.S. forces appear to be taking the first step towards building that country-wide private security force, by soliciting bids for a team that watch over Forward Operating Base Lightening, in Paktya province.

NATO Chief Confident Afghanistan Will Have More Troops -- [Voice of America]
The NATO secretary-general says he is confident the United States and other NATO allies will send more troops to Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks have surged in recent months. He spoke at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Meeting in Edinburgh, where Britain's foreign secretary outlined the strategy his nation would support.

Germany to extend Afghanistan mission another year -- [AP]
Germany will extend its mission in Afghanistan for another year, the government said Wednesday, despite the growing unpopularity of the war at home

Pakistani Successes May Sway US Troop Decision -- [New York Times]
A month after the Pakistani military began its push into the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan, militants appear to have been dispersed, not eliminated, with most simply fleeing. That recurring pattern illustrated the problems facing the Obama administration as it enters its final days of a decision on its strategy for Afghanistan. Success in this region, in the remote mountains near the Afghan border, could have a direct bearing on how many more American troops are ultimately sent to Afghanistan, and how long they must stay. Pakistan has shown increased willingness to tackle the problem, launching sweeping operations in the north and west of the country this year, but

Where are Taliban and al Qaeda commanders, US media asks Pak -- [Daily News & Analysis]
Washington: A day after senior Pakistani army commanders claimed that their forces have captured all major towns and population centres of the extremist-ridden South Waziristan, Taliban and foreign militants appear to have disappeared and not been eliminated.

Pakistani Army Shows Off Captured Taliban Posts -- [Washington Post]
A toy car booby-trapped with explosives, chemistry textbooks and handwritten case files from a Taliban court were among the debris left behind by fleeing Islamist militants in this remote village in the conflicted tribal region of South Waziristan. The now-deserted village, which was retaken by Pakistani army forces two weeks ago and visited by Western journalists on Tuesday for the first time since, had been a stronghold of Taliban forces for nearly five years.

IRAQ

Iraqi Kurds Warn of Election Boycott in Dispute Over Seats - [Washington Post]
Kurdish officials threatened Tuesday to boycott the upcoming national election in the three provinces they control in northern Iraq unless more parliament seats are allocated to the region. The threat came two days after Iraq's Sunni vice president said he would veto the election law passed last week unless more seats are set aside for representatives of Iraqi refugees. The majority of Iraqis abroad are Sunni. Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi has until Wednesday to veto the law, which legislators approved after weeks of wrangling, primarily over how the vote would be held in the disputed northern city of Kirkuk. The two ultimatums underscored the deep divisions among Iraqi politicians and raised fresh concerns about Iraq's ability to hold a credible election by Jan. 18.

Iraq's national elections in jeopardy as Sunni VP issues veto -- [McClatchy News]
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's pivotal national elections were thrown back into turmoil and potential delay Wednesday after Vice President Tariq al Hashemi vetoed part of an election law and sent it back to parliament.

US has time to reconsider Iraq drawdown plan-Odierno -- [Reuters]
The US military does not have to decide until April or May whether to push back the end of its combat operations in Iraq due to...

A few words from medics for the 41st Brigade -- [The Oregonian]
I spent an hour or two last month with Oregon National Guard medics who are based at Al Asad Airbase, discussing a little of what they've observed since coming to Iraq this summer. The discussion, as you might think, covered issues in two categories: The physical and the mental. The Physical - CPT Scott Johnson of Newport, who is the highest-ranking soldier in the medical support unit at Al Asad, said that medics are seeing a significant share of orthopedic issues that stem from the heavy loads that soldiers carry. Even though the war has wound down considerably over the last few years, soldiers on convoys and at checkpoints still wear a lot of body armor and carry a lot of ammunition and weaponry, as much as 65 pounds or even more. Over time, even young soldiers experience increased stress on their joints from walking, running and jumping with that much gear.

Goodbye to Iraq, and thanks -- [The Oregonian]
The soldiers of Oregon's 41st Brigade are about halfway through their Iraq deployment, but I'm finally home after a gruelling passage through Kuwait and a misadventure or two. I said goodbye to my last acquaintance in the Oregon National Guard on Monday afternoon in Salt Lake City. SSG Tom McNeil of Central Point was peeling off to fly to Medford, close to his home in Central Point, while I continued on to Portland. Have a terrific Thanksgiving at home, Tom. Thanks to all the folks along the way, especially the soldiers of Oregon's 41st Brigade Combat Team, for the many kindnesses extended to me during my sojourn among them. This toast to you, and I'm starting with you two, since you challenged me to do this, Scott and Mike

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

US, China in Strained Diplomatic Embrace -- [Wall Street Journal]
President Barack Obama was set to leave China on Wednesday after an awkward summit with some achievements but a long list of unfinished business - a result that suggests challenges ahead for the US as it struggles to come to terms with Asia's increasingly assertive superpower. The president secured a far-ranging framework for cooperation Tuesday with Beijing. But that deal was announced as frictions between the two nations appeared to increase over human rights and economic policy. President Obama and Chinese leader Hu Jintao issued their ambitious statement on cooperation in a clumsy fashion - at a media "availability" where they took no questions, didn't address each other and exhibited body language that seemed to say they had been frustrated by the entire exercise.

Obama: 'We've restored America's standing' -- [CNN]
A little more than a year after his election, President Obama said his administration has laid the groundwork for success on global and domestic matters. -- "I think that we've restored America's standing in the world

Somali Pirates : Maersk Alabama Attacked, Fights Back -- [Eagle Speak]
On the early morning of 18 November 2009, 350 nautical miles east from the Somali coast, pirates attacked MV Maersk Alabama, a US flagged, Danish owned, 155 meter long, Container ship.

Iranian COS Warns Russia: Your Security Is Tied To Ours -- [Memri Blog]
Iranian Army chief of staff Hassan Firouzabadi has warned Russia that delay in the supply of S-300 missile systems could harm Russia because its security is tied to that of Iran.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Suspected Fort Hood Shooter Believed to Be Self-Radicalized -- [Wall Street Journal]
Some lawmakers briefed Tuesday on the Fort Hood shooting said the suspect, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was most likely a self-radicalized extremist. The briefing for select members of Congress came as Republicans with oversight of national-security issues called on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to open a full congressional inquiry into alleged government miscues in the case of Maj. Hasan. He is charged with murdering 13 people Nov. 5 on the sprawling US Army base where he served as a psychiatrist.

Guantánamo Won't Close by January, Obama Says -- [NY Times]
President Obama acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that his administration would miss a self-imposed deadline to close the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, by mid-January, admitting the difficulties of following through on one of his first pledges as president.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

No Man Left Behind -- [Knottie's Niche]
We've all heard the military quote "No Man left behind" But it wasn't until last weekend as I sat listening to a veteran Marine talking to an Army Sgt about how the Army helicopter pilot who saved him and many others in Vietnam by flying in a hot zone repeatedly to save men that it hit home. The words took on a whole new meaning to me. When Micheal was killed the Army did not leave us behind. It started with a visit to tell us the news and they did not leave until there was no more they could do for us in that moment. Then there was the email to let us know no one else had been hurt from one of the medics. The Army did not leave us behind when they assigned us a causality assistance officer who walked us through each step, even offering to go to the store for us at any hour of the day if we needed anything at all. Then the emails, calls and instant message conversations from the men who served with Micheal began.

LTC Tim Karcher Update -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Wonderful update on LTC Tim Karcher, Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, wounded June 28 in Sadr City.
4 weeks later, after fighting for his life in Iraq, here in Germany, and at Walter Reed, the loss of both legs was the least of his problems:

Support SA while Christmas shopping this year! -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Through Soldiers' Angels, patriotic Americans can do their Holiday shopping or planning and support the troops at the same time!
The easiest way to do this is shop online at all your favorite stores. If you stop by GoodShop and Shop to Earn before you start, you can visit all your favorite online stores, purchase anything you want at the usual great prices, and a portion of what you spend will be donated to Soldiers' Angels--at no extra cost to you! On GoodShop, be sure you select Soldiers' Angels as the charity you are "GoodShopping for."

Trees for Troops: Helping Military Families -- [AdAge.com]
Military families. Transportation. Tree growers. Logistics. These seemingly incongruous words provide a case study in cause marketing.

FOX 5 Special: I-Team VA Loans -- [FOX News]

MILITARY

Muslim discrimination in the U.S. military. Not. -- [Castra Praetoria]
I'm done listening to any more bellyaching about how Muslims have it bad in the American military. It's a lie.
At this very moment there are American Muslims serving in our armed forces with valor. Muslim interpreters work along side us daily who aren't even American citizens and they have proven themselves as well. All these pansies wailing and moaning about discrimination against them because they are Muslims are not doing anyone any favors. Take it from a guy who has served along side Muslim Marines and Sailors in combat; worked with Jordanian and Iraqi interpreters in country; trained with Iraqi-Americans who have contributed to the effort by working as role players and training our troops in culture and language classes.

Time to revisit firearms policies on military posts -- [Atlanta Journal Constitution]
Just as legitimate questions were raised following the mass killings on the Virginia Tech campus in 2007, both military personnel and civilian citizens

Army's Record Suicide Rate 'Horrible,' General Says -- [Washington Post]
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli on Tuesday called the Army's record suicide rate this year "horrible" and said the problem of soldiers taking their own lives is the toughest he has faced in his 37 years in service. As of Nov. 16, 140 soldiers on active duty and 71 soldiers not on active duty were suspected to have committed suicide. "We are almost certainly going to end the year higher than last year,"

WELCOME HOME

Veterans' descendants welcome troops home to Fort Campbell -- [Clarksville Leaf Chronicle]
Their day concluded with the Welcome Home ceremony for 80 soldiers who returned from a year in Afghanistan. "We are descendants of our country's first

'Greywolf' Among First CAV Troops to Return Home -- [DVIDS]
Once the buses arrived at Cooper Field, chants of "move that bus" were heard from Families waiting to welcome home their Soldiers. Tommy Tatum, from Kempner

THE MEDIA

Where are Taliban and al Qaeda commanders, US media asks Pak -- [Daily News & Analysis]
Washington: A day after senior Pakistani army commanders claimed that their forces have captured all major towns and population centres of the extremist-ridden South Waziristan, Taliban and foreign militants appear to have disappeared and not been eliminated.

Army officials said that they have killed as many as 550 Taliban militants a month after the military began its campaign into the lawless territory, yet they acknowledge that hundreds, perhaps thousands more have melted away.
As the offensive into the area, considered to be a sanctuary of al Qaeda and Taliban militants gained momentum, Boston Globe said, "Vast numbers of Taliban and foreign terrorists had disappeared into the vast desert scrub and craggy hills surrounding their strongholds of Sararogha and Ladha".
"Where are they? That's what bothers me," New York Times quoted a senior American intelligence officer as saying.

POLITICS

Republicans Criticize Obama's Call to Delay Hill Inquiries on Fort Hood -- [Washington Post]
The Obama administration's request that congressional committees slow their investigations of the Fort Hood shootings sparked denunciations Tuesday from Republicans on Capitol Hill, who pushed for an immediate inquiry of any warning signs before the massacre. House and Senate Republicans, emerging from the most detailed briefings given to Congress since the Nov. 5 attack killed 13 at the central Texas Army post, said delaying investigations would put off legislative efforts to give military officials the tools to prevent similar tragedies in the future. They said such an effort would not interfere with the criminal investigation of shooting suspect Nidal M. Hasan, an Army major who was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan.


Obama Approval Dips Below 50% For First Time -- [Quinnipiac University]
Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For U.S. Troops In Afghanistan Drops Below 50% -- President Barack Obama's job approval rating is 48 - 42 percent, the first time he has slipped below the 50 percent threshold nationally ...

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

Taliban Spokesman Azam Tariq Releases Statement Through as-Sahab Productions on Youtube -- [Jawa Report]
as-Sahab is al-Qaeda's "production label" So here we have an official terrorist communication being released and referenced by AP on Youtube.
...The story goes on about recent attacks and the response of Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq.

DP opposes troops to Afghanistan -- [JoongAng Daily]
The main opposition Democratic Party decided yesterday to oppose the government's decision to dispatch troops to Afghanistan. Until yesterday, party officials remained divided on the controversial decision. The government had announced on Oct. 30 that it would send troops to protect civilian professionals working on rebuilding projects in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Clinton Ties Future US Aid to Afghanistan Accountability -- [Los Angeles Times]
The United States is limiting its goals in Afghanistan and demanding better accountability from that country's underperforming leader, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday, and she tied additional US civilian help to results from the government in Kabul. Clinton, an influential voice in deliberations about whether to add large numbers of US troops to an unpopular eight-year war, said Afghan President Hamid Karzai could do more to reduce corruption and go after those who may have looted US aid in the past.

High Costs Weigh on Troop Debate for Afghan War -- [New York Times]
While President Obama's decision about sending more troops to Afghanistan is primarily a military one, it also has substantial budget implications that are adding pressure to limit the commitment, senior administration officials say. The latest internal government estimates place the cost of adding 40,000 American troops and sharply expanding the Afghan security forces, as favored by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top American and allied commander in Afghanistan, at $40 billion to $54 billion a year, the officials said. Even if fewer troops are sent, or their mission is modified, the rough formula used by the White House, of about $1 million per soldier a year, appears almost constant.

Report: Contractors Outnumber Troops In Afghanistan By Highest Ratio In US History -- [Huffington Post]
In the clearest sign that the Pentagon has become dependent on privatization, a new report reveals that today there are more defense contractors than US troops in Afghanistan

Idiots With Weapons -- [Afghan Quest - in Afghanistan]
...A little after 12:30, two explosions rocked the crowded bazaar just past the gates of the District Center. The insurgents had missed an area large enough to play several soccer games simultaneously and instead hit the bustling market about midday on bazaar day.
A CROW gunner in one of the MRAPS nearby announced that he had spotted a group on a nearby mountain that he thought may have been involved. Mortars at FOB Kutschbach launched a number of rounds at the probable POO (Point Of Origin) site. The local ANP Chief, a heroic individual who I've written about before, ran up into the bazaar with four ANP. Soon ANP trucks were summoned to assist with evacuating the casualties. The Chief later stated that at least six civilians had been killed and another 26 wounded. Four casualties were brought to the District Center, where French and American medics stabilized them before loading them into French vehicles and rushing to them to FOB Kutschbach for further treatment. ...

No Rain No Rainbows -- [Inside The Wire - in Afghanistan]
It's Friday, the High Holy Day and my day off. Ninety minutes later I was woken up by my roommate entering the room, "You missed all the excitement," he tells me. Come to find out there was a VBIED at Camp Phoenix, the one US installation we typically visit to drop mail off or run to the PX for anything we need to buy. The news drained me, a car bomb at Phoenix when just five days ago I went through that same check point to send a hard drive back to the states. A group of brothas where working the gate, about 4 or 5 that day. I can't say I knew them but it was very sobering.

Rex out on a multi-day mission -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
From Liisa, SMSgt Temple's wife: Rex has departed on a multi-day mission. In his absence he asked me to post the official announcement about the USF Bulls adopting his school supplies drive so that if anyone who reads this blog is in the Tampa Bay area , they can come to the game and help with the drive this Saturday. Remember that while we ask for new supplies it's also OK to donate your slightly used school supplies as well. Again, our warmest thanks to the USF Bulls.

Taliban guerrillas bring 'Iraq tactics' to Pakistan -- [AFP]
"The previous three or four attacks in markets was a kind of strategy that was being used in Iraq... but it will come at a cost. No guerrilla movement can

In eastern Afghanistan, a vital road-building mission -- [Washington Post /AP]
French and Afghan troops move to secure a dangerous area
Hundreds of French and Afghan troops on Sunday pushed into a hostile valley in eastern Afghanistan where militants launch quick attacks and then disappear into hillside villages. The mission: Secure the area for a planned bypass road around the Afghan capital to move supplies from neighboring Pakistan.

Outskirts of Town -- [Highland Sailor - in Afghanistan]
I have been sequestered in a room with 20 other officers from various nations, services and specialities with orders to prepare a product for our Commanding General. In other words, no pictures and nothing I can report on in this blog...not very exciting I know, sorry.
However, Today I made it outside the wire and visited a make-shift displaced persons (aka refugee) camp on the outskirts of Kabul. This camp was the worst I have seen. We distributed items that you provided/donated to our VHS mission.

IJC Operational Update, Nov. 16 -- [ISAF - in Afghanistan]
An Afghan-international security force detained several suspected militants in Nangarhar province today, one of which was a sought-after Taliban facilitator responsible for numerous weapons shipments to other militant elements in the area.
The joint security force targeted a compound near the village of Lawangpur in the Chaparhar district where intelligence sources reported the Taliban facilitator was located. The joint force searched the compound without incident and detained the suspected militants, one of which was identified as the Taliban facilitator.
No shots were fired, and no civilians were harmed during this operation.
Ghazni Development Projects Completed

Meet Earl -- [HERMANEUTICS: AFGHANISTAN - in Afghanistan]
Earl is a Staff Sergeant ...As the Transportation Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) he was almost single-handedly responsible for moving all 3000 people, all 100 helicopters, and hundreds of containers from Savannah all the way to Afghanistan. Over the last year he has worked longer hours than almost anyone to make sure we didn't lose a single piece of equipment. Never one to complain, he put off knee surgery and ignored his other health issues for the good of our Brigade. He doesn't like to type or make Powerpoints (which is most of my job) but would rather be out on the tarmac with the Soldiers and equipment despite the dehydration and sunburn on his scalp. Earl has taught me volumes about what it means to be a Soldier through his work ethic, prudence, and Git-er-done attitude.
So, when Earl asked me to re-enlist him this week I was honored beyond words. Here is a man nearly twice my age, who still salutes and calls me Sir, and evidently respects me enough to help commit the next 9+ years of his life to the Army.

US Troops Battle Taliban, Afghan Rules -- [Washington Times]
Army Capt. Casey Thoreen wiped the last bit of sleep from his eyes before the sun rose over his isolated combat outpost. His soldiers did the same as they checked and double-checked their weapons and communications equipment. Ahead was a dangerous foot patrol into the heart of Taliban territory. "Has anyone seen the [Afghan National Army] guys?" asked Capt. Thoreen, 30, the commander of Blackwatch Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment with the 5th Stryker Brigade. "Are they not showing up?" A soldier, who looked ghostly in the reddish light of a headlamp, shook his head. "We can't do anything if we don't have the ANA or [the Afghan National Police]," said a frustrated Capt. Thoreen. "We have to follow the Karzai 12 rules. But the Taliban has no rules," he said. "Our soldiers have to juggle all these rules and regulations and they do it without hesitation despite everything.

VIDEO: Life on the frontline with the Afghan Army -- [Helmand Blog]

Bombed, Blasted and Shot Yet Still the Taliban Come -- [The Times]
Two years ago Corporal Alex Temple fought like a lion to capture the Afghan town of Musa Qala from the Taliban. Last week he was back, once again in a fierce battle just two miles from its centre. "It has changed though," he said. "It's more dangerous. The fighting is harder." Amid the thunder of battle, I saw Temple lead men forward with the same raw courage I had witnessed before. The British soldiers with him seemed more composed, unperturbed by the bullets flying past their heads. The Afghan army on their flanks was better armed and vastly more competent. Yet the enemy had learnt too.

Taliban kill Bajaur opposition leader, target Peshawar leader -- [LWJ Bill Roggio]
The Taliban continue their campaign to remove tribal opposition leaders in the Northwest. A leader who agreed to fight the Taliban in Bajaur was killed, while another anti-Taliban leader escaped an assassination attempt in Peshawar. In Bajaur, the Taliban killed Malik Shir Zaman, a tribal leader who signed an agreement with the government. Zaman had agreed to raise a lashkar, or tribal militia, to oppose the Taliban. The Taliban stormed Zaman's home and destroyed part of it. Zaman was killed in a gunfight. Zaman was from the Mamond tribal area, a region that serves as a stronghold for the Taliban and Faqir Mohammed, the chief of the Bajaur Taliban. Although the military has conducted several operations there, it has failed to eject the Taliban.

For Pakistani President, Goodbye to Goodwill --[Washington Post]
President Asif Ali Zardari, who entered office 14 months ago on a wave of post-dictatorship goodwill and sympathy for his slain wife, Benazir Bhutto, now faces growing public anger and disillusionment over his remote presidency. Some critics are urging him to step down, and others predict he will be forced from office within months.

US Set to Open New Afghan Prison -- [Wall Street Journal]
Officials unveiled a new $60 million detention facility at the main US air base in Afghanistan and promised greater transparency at a prison where Afghans have long suspected hundreds of their countrymen are being held for dubious reasons. The new prison and the pledge to open the inmate review process come as the Department of Defense worries that abuses and militant recruiting within Afghan prisons are helping strengthen the Taliban. A Pentagon review earlier this year called for a broad overhaul of the Afghan penal system, as well as of the US's prison at Bagram Air Base. The old Bagram prison is housed in a Soviet-era machinery hangar. Critics of the old prison, where two inmates died after being interrogated in 2002, have referred to it as "Obama's Gitmo."

IRAQ

Was the Iraq War Worth It? A Divided City Tries to Answer. -- [Washington Post]
The Shiite pilgrims arrive in crowded buses and are dropped off just outside the shrine's gate. They walk down a narrow path patrolled by security guards and lined with tall cement walls to pray at the al-Askari mosque, the resting place of two of the most revered figures in Shiite Islam. The mosque, which once had a golden dome that sparkled in this city of gray, looks like a construction site, with piles of debris and scaffolding - remnants of the February 2006 bombing that unleashed a brutal civil war between Sunnis and Shiites. The thousands of visitors who come each week, mostly Iranians and Iraqis from southern provinces, don't venture from the tear-shaped exclusion zone. Just outside, stores and hotels that once thrived on tourism make up a battle-scarred ghost town. City leaders, merchants and residents have grown deeply resentful at being cut off from the economic heart of the city. "We feel like we're living in a big prison," said merchant Ghazan Hamid, whose shop lies just beyond the wall protecting the mosque. Samarra, where the US military closed a key base this fall, in many ways embodies the Iraq that American forces are leaving behind as the troop drawdown begins in earnest.

Militants Disguised As Troops Kill 13 In Iraq -- [RTT News]
Despite a fall in violence in Iraq since last year, a number of recent blasts have raised fears that sustained violence could return to the country,

Seasons -- [The Life - in Iraq]
Now that it's November, the weather in Basra, Iraq has turned. The air has cooled and the dust storms of the summer are a thing of the past.
Blackhawk rides have become bearable, not leaving you sapped of energy and sweating through all the layers of your clothing and body armor by the time you land.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

800,000 Converts from Islam? -- [The_Anchoress]
From my fellow FT'er, comes news that there are, apparently, 800,000 new Muslim converts to Christianity.

Why the US should keep an eye on China's military -- [Foreign Policy]
Asian leaders are privately, and increasingly publicly, concerned about China's growing military might and what they see as a failure of the United States

Obama seeks China's support -- [The Australian]
BARACK Obama will today urge China's President Hu Jintao to join with the US and Russia in sanctions against Iran in an effort to curb the Islamic

UN atomic watchdog wants answers from Iran -- [AFP]
VIENNA -- Iran's explanation about the nature and purpose of a previously undeclared second nuclear site "requires further clarification", the UN atomic

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Obama says al Qaeda still greatest threat to U.S. -- [Reuters]
President Barack Obama said on Monday that al Qaeda remained the biggest threat to U.S. security, as his aides stepped up pressure on Afghanistan and Pakistan to cooperate with Washington's strategy in the troubled region.

Experts Outline Hurdles in Trying to Defend Hasan -- [New York Times]
Defending the man accused of premeditated murder in the Nov. 5 shooting rampage at Fort Hood is the kind of test that many lawyers dread, and that some live for. How does Col. John P. Galligan, the retired Army officer who is representing the accused, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, defend someone who shot and killed 13 people before so many witnesses, whose story became national news, in a court where the judge and jury will be fellow soldiers? Military experts say the best Colonel Galligan might hope for is to save his client from the death penalty. "There won't be a lot of guilt-innocence maneuverability there," said Thomas H. Dunn, a former defense lawyer for the Army in death penalty cases. Avenues of defense, experts said, could include the military equivalent of an insanity plea, petitioning for a change of venue to take the proceedings away from the emotions of Fort Hood, and delaying the proceedings to allow the passions to ebb. Questions could also be raised about the prejudicial effect of statements by military officials, and even by the commander in chief, President Obama, who spoke of the "murderous and craven acts" at the memorial service. Ultimately,...

Cleric Says He Was Confidant to Hasan -- [Washington Post]
In his first interview with a journalist since the Fort Hood rampage, Yemeni American cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi said that he neither ordered nor pressured Maj. Nidal M. Hasan to harm Americans, but that he considered himself a confidant of the Army psychiatrist who was given a glimpse via e-mail into Nadal's growing discomfort with the US military. The cleric said he thought he played a role in transforming Hasan into a devout Muslim eight years ago, when Hasan listened to his lectures at the Dar al-Hijra mosque in Northern Virginia. Aulaqi said that Hasan "trusted" him and that the two developed an e-mail correspondence over the past year.

Remaining Detainees Leave Guantanamo's Closure Up in Air -- [Los Angeles Times]
The Obama administration took an important step toward closing the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, when it announced plans Friday to prosecute the accused Sept. 11 conspirators in the United States. But the move also underscored the near certainty that President Obama will miss a self-imposed January deadline for shuttering the controversial facility. Five detainees - including self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, will be tried in federal court in New York. But the plans leave unsettled the fate of more than 200 remaining detainees, who now represent the biggest obstacle to closing the prison.

Durbin, Quinn see economic boon -- [Sun Times]
...According to an economic impact analysis by the Obama administration, the federal purchase and operation of Thomson could generate $1 billion for the local economy over four years and create between 2,340 and 3,250 jobs.
Quinn and Obama discussed converting Thomson to a federal facility at a Nov. 4 White House meeting. In a Nov. 12 letter to Holder and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the governor acknowledged that Guantanamo prisoners could end up at Thomson.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Wounded Warrior, Wife Overcome Adversity -- [Family Matters Blog]
When I recently walked into the lobby of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., I felt that familiar sense of awe and excitement I always feel when I'm about to be in the presence of wounded warriors. These troops wage war on the battlefield and, when injured, wage a different type of war back home, a battle that requires just as much, if not more, courage and resilience. I must admit I'm a huge fan. I was there to meet with a wounded soldier and his wife to find out how they had weathered the depths of deployment and injury and made it through. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Canine and his wife, Jennifer, an attractive, young couple, greeted me warmly and immediately put me at ease. At first glance, you'd never notice that Robert had been injured

Group collects food, hygiene and gift items to send to troops for the holidays -- [Steamboat Pilot]
Molly Hibbard, part of the local Support the Troops group, said the lack of commissaries in Afghanistan means

Dr. No and the Wounded Veterans -- [NY Times]
A creative plan to help wounded veterans and their exhausted families adapt to the strain of long-term home care is on the brink of bipartisan approval -- but for the familiar obstructionism of Senator Tom Coburn. This is one of the most deplorable displays by the lawmaker-physician, an Oklahoma Republican who relishes playing the self-styled budget hawk by putting attention-grabbing holds on crucial legislation.

Lack of Healthcare Kills Veterans at Much Higher Rate than Combat -- [Salem-News]
Harvard study shows that for every American killed in Afghanistan in 2008, 14 military veterans died because they lacked healthcare coverage

MILITARY

700 Connecticut National Guard Soldiers Heading Off To Iraq, Afghanistan -- [The Courant]
The dispatching of the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment of New Haven to Afghanistan, and the 250th Engineer Company of New London, a bridge-building unit that is being sent to Iraq, is the largest single deployment of Connecticut Guard members since the Korean War.

Morale and Meaning -- [CBN - Boots on the Ground: Chuck Holton]
The AP recently published an article calling on two recent studies from the U.S. Army Medical Department's Mental Health Advisory team. These reports polled soldiers in combat and non-combat units in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and found that unit morale is dropping in Afghanistan and holding steady in Iraq.
As President Obama continues to mull his response to General McChrystal's request for more troops, and in the wake of the cowardly killings of 13 Soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, the media is asking lots of questions about the mental health of America's military. And these reports seem to be more fuel for the theory that our men and women serving overseas are being stretched to the breaking point.

WELCOME HOME

Families and friends welcome home airmen from the 115th Fighter Wing -- [Daily Cardinal]
Jim Doyle welcomed the troops as they exited an aircraft at Truax Field in Madison. Afterwards, friends and family met their loved ones at the Wisconsin

THE MEDIA

Obama Bristles At AP Question: Loven At Risk Of Being Shunned -- [Wizbang]
Herein is a just a small measure of a thin skinned White House on the matter of Afghanistan policy. Considering that the source is Politico, which covets its White House access, and the quoted question came from none other than AP Obama maven Jennifer Loven, it can only be concluded that, to a small degree, some in the media are seeing themselves as Hope and Change chumps.

The two faces of Matthew Alexander -- [This Ain't Hell ...]
Matthew Alexander published his book last year entitled "How to Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, to Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq". The book has it's roots in a Mark Bowden article in the Atlantic. Alexander parlayed the Atlantic article into a book deal.
...Olbermann didn't read the book, or if he did, he didn't mind that Alexander lied about what he wrote in the book. In the interview, ...
In the interview, Alexander says that he used interrogation techniques in Iraq that the military isn't using, however, throughout the book, he credits his instructors at the "Schoolhouse" (his word) for teaching him these new techniques. But in one brief paragraph he says he talked religion with a terrorist which would have made his instructors at the "Schoolhouse", to use his phrase, "shit bricks" - so I have to assume that the whole book is about that one little conversation since that's the only time he deviated from his training by his own admission.

Hostages -- [Michael Yon]
When New York Times journalist David Rohde was kidnapped last year in Afghanistan, the company engaged in a painstaking effort to squash the story. They succeeded in persuading major media who learned of the kidnapping to keep quiet. The cover-up was so good that a New York Times reporter I spoke with in December 2008, while she and I joined Secretary Gates on a trip through Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq and back to the United States, had not heard about the David Rohde kidnapping.
The New York Times openly agrees that publishing such articles increases the peril to the lives of hostages, yet it published details about a British couple being held hostage in Somalia, and thus increased the value of the hostages to the kidnappers.

POLITICS

Obama sends letter to Philippine Muslim rebel leader -- [Asia-Pacific News]
Manila - US President Barack Obama has sent a letter to the leader of the main Muslim rebel group in the Philippines, a guerrilla official said Saturday.
The letter to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Murad Ibrahim was delivered to rebel peace negotiators by Deputy Assistant State Secretary Scot Marciel, according to Muhammad Ameen, chairman of the MILF secretariat.
Ameen said Marciel and two other US diplomats met MILF peace negotiators headed by Mohagher Iqbal on November 6. Ameen did not disclose the contents of the letter but said it was a response to a letter Murad sent to Obama after he won the election last year.
On Friday, US State Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton urged the Philippine government and the MILF to conclude a peace deal before the end of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's term next year.

Shocker. Obama Slams Bush & America in Japan -- [Gateway Pundit]
It just wouldn't be the same if Obama went abroad without trashing Bush or America...
President Obama took the time to trash former President Bush and America during his visit to Japan.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

Updating....

AFGHANISTAN

Obama: decision soon on troops for Afghanistan -- [AP]
President Barack Obama said Friday that his decision about how many troops to send to Afghanistan will come soon and he is bent on "getting this

Landstuhl staff busy as Afghan fight intensifies -- [Stars&Stripes]
LANDSTUHL, Germany -- On a drizzly, frigid morning, about 20 injured servicemembers were unloaded from buses at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
Some walked off. Others lay on gurneys covered in green blankets that had kept them warm on the long flight from Afghanistan. As the hospital staff eased the wounded off the buses, the mood grew solemn, as it often has lately.
...The number of combat-wounded troops from Afghanistan treated at the hospital has spiked during the past three months. Doctors from Landstuhl -- the first stop for the wounded from the war zone -- saw 163 troops with battle injuries during August, 152 in September and 109 in October.

Obama: Key for Afghans to provide for own security -- [Reuters]
President Barack Obama said on Friday he would make a decision soon on his Afghanistan strategy and the plan would make clear the goal is for Afghans to provide for their own security. He added that the U.S. commitment in Afghanistan could not be open-ended.
Asked at a news conference in Japan what information he still needed to enable him to make a decision, Obama said it was not matter of awaiting a piece of data.
Instead, he said, "It's a matter of making certain that when I send young men and women into war and devote billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer money, that it's making us safer and that the strategies that are in place, not just on the military side but also on the civilian side, are coordinated and effective in our primary goal."

Army says morale down among troops in Afghanistan -- [AP]
WASHINGTON -- The army says morale has fallen among its forces in Afghanistan, where troops are seeing record violence in the 8-year-old war.

"ER" Nursed back to Health -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
Today's mission was to travel to Camp Phoenix and retrieve "ER," one of our MRAPs. Despite being the ambulance model, we do not use it as such, so the boss doesn't want me to refer to it as ER anymore. Instead, it has been relabeled 5K-1 (5th Kandak, vehicle 1). It was another cool morning and my ETT team readied the vehicles for the mission. Our MRAPs are undergoing maintenance, so we used our fleet of armored HMMVWs for this mission. Meanwhile, I was busy loading lumber on a contractor's truck so it can be pushed out to another FOB down south. The lumber will be used to build a tent floor for our ANA brothers. Recently an insurgent rocket destroyed one of our sister Kandak b-huts (tragically killed 2 ANA soldiers) and another one accidentally burned down resulting in the death of another ANA comrade.

Rift in US War Cabinet as Obama Throws Out All Options in Debate Over Troop Surge -- [The Times]
Two leaked classified cables from the US Ambassador in Kabul voicing grave concern about sending more American troops to Afghanistan have exposed open conflict inside President Obama's national security team over his war strategy.

Gates Lashes Out at Leakers -- [Defense Link]
...Gates said he has little doubt that some of those leaks have come from within the Defense Department. "If I found out who" was involved, he said, "it would probably be a career ender." Leaking information as Obama is weighing critical factors serves neither the interest of the country nor the military, the secretary said.

Envoy Questioning More Troops in Afghanistan Was Military Hawk Under Bush -- [FOXNews]
"Ambassador Eikenberry expressed his reservations about troop increases to the president while Afghanistan's political situation remains unclear,"...

The Cable Guy -- [Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
In an Afghan version of the chicken-or-egg question, cables by U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry leaked today urged President Obama to continue to delay a decision to deploy more troops until Hamid Karzai's government takes a stronger stand against corruption. There are political speculations about the ambassador's motives (Spencer Ackerman, for example, suggests the cables are designed to expand the Embassy's influence in Afghanistan) and a double standard already at work in press coverage (don't expect Eikenberry to suffer the same outrage that greeted General McChrystal regarding the propriety of influencing policy deliberations). But the most interesting aspect of the episode is ...

White House Talks Up Need for Exit Strategy in Afghanistan -- [Los Angeles Times]
The White House sent its strongest signal yet Thursday that it is searching for an eventual way out of Afghanistan even as it considers sending thousands of additional troops to join the war there. Emphasizing the importance of timetables for US involvement, administration officials stressed that President Obama is concerned about how long American troops will remain in the country and wants to avoid an "open-ended" commitment. "We have been there for eight years, and we're not going to be there forever," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.

Japan aid pledge for Afghanistan - return to checkbook diplomacy? -- [Christian Science Monitor]
Japan has offered $5 billion in nonmilitary aid to Afghanistan as it ends refueling mission for US forces.

Germany Sends More Troops to Northern Afghanistan -- [Bloomberg]
13 (Bloomberg) -- Germany will send a company of 120 extra soldiers to northern Afghanistan as the Taliban-led insurgency in the once relatively peaceful

Bomber Strikes Near US Military Base in Afghan Capital -- [Voice of America]
By VOA News Afghan officials say a suicide bomber struck a convoy of vehicles Friday near a US-run NATO military base in Kabul, wounding six people.

Down Time in Afghanistan -- [NY Times - At War - in Afghanistan]
On a recent reporting trip to Afghanistan's Helmand Province with Dexter Filkins, the photographer Peter van Agtmael captured images of American and Afghan soldiers during some down time.

Digger dog found after Afghan adventure [ABC News]
An Australian Special Forces explosives detection dog has been found alive and well almost 14 months after going missing in action (MIA) in Afghanistan.

IRAQ

Iraq Lesson Still Unlearned: We Won -- [Investors.com]
You wouldn't know it from most news coverage, but the Iraq story continues and -- get this -- it's a story of emerging victory. What else can you call it when a stable democracy, the ultimate goal in America's military intervention, is in sight?
...These are all signs that the U.S. nation-building effort in Iraq, once widely seen as hopeless, is working. The liberal view of the Iraq War -- that of a debacle from which we cannot escape fast enough -- can't stand up for long against such good news. That may be why certain news gatekeepers stressed the theme of U.S. withdrawal when they reported the passage of the election law.

Rebuilding Its Economy, Iraq Shuns US Businesses -- [New York Times]
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's Baghdad Trade Fair ended Tuesday, six years and a trillion dollars after the American invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein,

Oops: Biden Never Supported the Partition of Iraq? -- [Times Watch]
Thursday's off-lead story by James Glanz and Walter Gibbs is on recent revelations that Peter Galbraith, an "unpaid adviser to the Kurds" who has influenced Democratic policymakers like former senator/VP Joe Biden and Sen. John Kerry, stands to make millions from his closeness to the Kurds and a Norwegian oil company.
Given the Times sympathies for anti-war and leftish "blood for oil" arguments, the Times couldn't ignore the story, and indeed provides a lot of new damning details -- but also has one enormous gaffe that lets Vice President Biden off the hook.

Marines welcome Iraqi Airmen to Camp -- [MNF-I]
The Iraqi Ministry of Defense has based one Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) helicopter detachment here to support the Iraqi Security Forces in Anbar province.

Iraqi court rules Guardian defamed Nouri al-Maliki -- [Guardian]
An Iraqi court has ordered the Guardian to pay Nouri al-Maliki damages of 100m dinar (£52,000) after supporting a complaint by the Iraqi prime minister's intelligence service that he had been defamed by a Guardian story in April describing him as increasingly autocratic.

Iraq in the rear view mirror -- [Blogs Over Baghdad - leaving Iraq]
After nearly 330 days, all of the 314th PAOC Soldiers are now out of Iraq and on our way home. The last 8 of us, including LTC Perez and me, left Baghdad International Airport right at the end of Veterans Day. Four of our Soldiers are already at Fort Dix doing the work of the advanced party...and the rest of us will join them in a few days. We all slept in yesterday morning, and then started the work day with an awards ceremony. SGTs Autumn Hope, Mary Lee and Kellena Leech all received an Army Achievement Medal for work they did toward the end of our year in Iraq. SSG Jeremy Fowler received a Certificate of Achievement for an incredible end-of-tour magazine he created that spotlighted all our Soldiers. Family members might want to look at the magazine to get some insight into the experiences of their loved ones

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Lawyer: Accused Fort Hood gunman may be paralyzed -- [AP]
FORT HOOD, Texas -- The Army psychiatrist accused in the fatal shootings at Fort Hood may be paralyzed from the waist down after being shot multiple times

Second Officer Gives an Account of the Shooting at Ft. Hood -- [New York Times]
Sgt. Kimberly D. Munley has been applauded as a hero across the nation for shooting down Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan during the bloody rampage at Fort Hood last week. The account of heroism, given by the authorities, attracted the attention of newspapers, the networks and television talk shows. But the initial story of how she and the accused gunman went down in an exchange of gunfire now appears to be inaccurate. Another officer, Senior Sgt. Mark Todd, 42, said in an interview Thursday that he fired the shots that brought down the gunman after Sergeant Munley was seriously wounded.

Feds Move Against Iranian Mosques; 1st Amendment Rears Its Head -- [PJM - Michael Ledeen]
It's undoubtedly sheer coincidence as Michael Rubin told the AP, but just as the debate over Hasan-Son-of-Allah takes on greater intensity, the Justice Department has moved to seize what is says are Iranian assets in America. They have tagged four mosques and the Piaget Building at 650 Fifth Avenue in New York, New York.
This is stage two of an ongoing action against the Alavi Foundation, and what the government alleges to be a front company, the Assa Corporation.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Breaking: Hasan wired money to Pakistan? -- [Hot Air]
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly This would appear to indicate that Nidal Hasan was something other than a loner who cracked under the strain of vicarious PTSD. The man who made a $90,000 annual salary but lived like a pauper may have sent money to Pakistan, according to Rep. Pete Hoekstra

Bureaucracy, Culture & Ft. Hood Attacks -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The Fort Hood attack was an intelligence failure, just like 9/11 and so many others before. In retrospect, it all seems obvious - these kinds of failures always do. It is easy to blame bureaucratic inertia, but it is also unfair. Large organizations need procedures to function. Priorities must be set and decisions have to be made and implemented.
Examining the system failure is revealing, both about the challenges in preventing these kinds of tragedies but also in how they reveal some of our society's core values.

'I agreed to become a suicide bomber' -- [BBC]
A 14-year-old boy in the tribal region of Bajaur, in north-west Pakistan, says he was detained by Taliban forces who tried to turn him into a suicide bomber. The boy is now in army hands. He provided a detailed account to BBC correspondent Orla Guerin. His story cannot be independently verified.

Gitmo 9/11 suspects heading to NY trial -- [AP]
Self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sent to New York to face trial in a civilian federal court, and five other suspects will be sent to military commissions, an Obama administration official said Friday. The official said Attorney General Eric Holder plans to announce the decision later in the morning. The official is not authorized to discuss the decision before the announcement, so spoke on condition of anonymity.

US to seize mosques linked to Iran -- [UKPA]
US Federal prosecutors are seeking to take over four mosques and a New York City skyscraper owned by a Muslim organisation suspected of being controlled by the Iranian government. Prosecutors have filed a civil complaint in federal court against the Alavi Foundation, seeking the forfeiture of more than 500 million dollars (£302 million) in assets.
The assets include bank accounts; Islamic centres consisting of schools and mosques in New York, Maryland, California and Houston; more than 100 acres in Virginia; and a 36-story Manhattan office tower.

Lawyer: FBI asked terror suspect to be informant -- [AP]
A Massachusetts man accused of plotting to kill Americans was portrayed by federal prosecutors Thursday as a jihadist who is too dangerous to be released on bail, but the man's lawyer said he was charged only after he refused to become an FBI informant against Muslims.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

US Post Office offering deals on military mail -- [13abc]
Today is the recommended mailing date if you want to send a parcel post package to a member of the military serving overseas. For members of our military

CACI Named to GI Jobs Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers -- [CNNMoney]
12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) announced today that it has placed 31st in GI Jobs magazine's Top 100 military-friendly

SBA, Six Universities to Offer Business Training for Iraq/Afghanistan Disabled Vets -- [Business Wire]
The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced a three-year agreement to expand and deliver entrepreneurship training for service-disabled veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hal Muskat: don't thank me -- [This ain't Hell,...]
Yes, there are 363 days every year to express your personal disrespect for soldiers. Just like a black person thinks he has a right to call other black people the "n" word, some veterans think they can use Veterans' Day to call other veterans vile names. Hal Muskat, one of the original zombies of the VVAW, is just like that. He begins his Veterans Day rant by trying to undo all of the work veterans and their service organizations have accomplished over the last thirty years;

The American Valor Project -- [BlackFive - Uncle Jimbo]
Stephens Media has an initiative underway to spotlight our new generation of heroes on the pages of their newspapers and their websites call the American Valor Project. It salutes those who have gone above and beyond the call in the war on terror. You will recognize some of the names from our Someone you should know series.

MILITARY

Medals Of Dishonor -- [Smoking Gun]
FBI: Prodigiously decorated California man never served in military
Just in time for Veteran's Day, a California bank employee is facing federal charges for allegedly masquerading as a decorated Marine and wearing a host of bogus medals, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Navy Cross. Steven Burton, 39, is scheduled to surrender tomorrow in U.S. District Court in Riverside, California (Burton, who has never served in the armed forces, was named last week in a misdemeanor criminal information charging him with the unauthorized wearing of military medals). According to a search warrant affidavit, Burton's charade was discovered after an actual Navy commander, Colleen Salonga, ran into Burton at their high school reunion.

Martinez native accused of dressing up as hero -- [San Francisco Chronicle]
So were military officials, who said Burton had never served in the military - nor had he spent a day fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan, as he claimed.

WELCOME HOME

US Troops are Not Getting The Heroic Welcome Home They So Richly Deserve -- [NewsBlaze]
I had the honor of meeting some of these troops and watched more than two thousand freshly returned from Iraq and Afghanistan preparing to march.

A red, white and blue crowd greets soldiers at D/FW Airport -- [Dallas Morning News]
A soldier knelt to high-five a young child who was waving and smiling as he and others in uniform came down a crowded aisle at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
The soldier paused for a moment to grasp the child's hand, tears in his eyes.
It was apparent that he didn't know the child - or any of the others in the crowd who turned out to welcome him.
But it didn't matter. He was home.

Families and friends welcome home airmen from the 115th Fighter Wing -- [Daily Cardinal]
Jim Doyle welcomed the troops as they exited an aircraft at Truax Field in Madison. Afterwards, friends and family met their loved ones at the Wisconsin

THE MEDIA/SOCIAL MEDIA

The New Media: The Dark Side -- [Wings Over Iraq]
Additional links: Adam Elkus--Ft. Hood: A Social Media Failure, ABC News "Fort Hood Soldier Causes Stir on Twitter"
In September of 2009, the Associated Press came under intense criticism for publishing pictures of Lance Corporal Joshua Bernard, as he lay dying in Afghanistan. The picture was published soon after his death, against the wishes of the family. Although the Associated Press' actions were protected under the First Amendment, their actions were, as Tom Ricks puts it, "morally indefensible". Indeed, the pictures were decried by many throughout the defense community, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Charles Krauthammer on the media coverage of the Fort Hood shooting -- [Washington Post]
What a surprise -- that someone who shouts "Allahu Akbar" (the "God is great" jihadist battle cry) as he is shooting up a room of American soldiers might have Islamist motives. It certainly was a surprise to the mainstream media

POLITICS

Top Republican says White House hiding info on Fort Hood -- [The Hill]
The ranking Republican on the House intelligence committee on Tuesday night accused the White House of withholding information on the Fort Hood attack.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (Mich.) said administration officials delayed briefing members of Congress about the alleged gunman, raising "red flags" about what the White House was hiding.

The Politics of Fort Hood -- [NRO - Jonah Goldberg]
...That effort stems from what Obama believes to be a sweeping mandate to be Not George Bush. In pursuit of that mandate, the White House has already purged the phrase "war on terror" from its lexicon, preferring "overseas contingency operations." Obama is hell-bent on closing Guantanamo Bay, is making progress on the White House project to treat terrorists as mere criminals, and has kowtowed to the United Nations as no president has. Meanwhile, his secretary of homeland security, Janet Napolitano, says that Islamic terrorism of the type we saw on 9/11 should now be referred to as "man-caused disasters." But she adds that American right-wingers must be scrutinized as potential terrorists.

Suckers of the Week -- [Slate- Kaus Files]
"Am I the only one who smells Kabuki in the reports that President Obama has dramatically rejected all the Afghan war options with which he was presented, demanding to know where the 'off ramps' are? If you were about to recommend a troop increase that was unpopular, especially with your Democratic base, wouldn't you precede it with some drama like this to demonstrate that you are a) in charge, b) not being conned, and c) insistent on a withdrawal as quickly as possible? Just asking."

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

VETERAN'S DAY

Muggers Return Wallet After Seeing Army ID -- [FOX News]
Muggers Return Wallet After Seeing Army ID, A Milwaukee Army reservist's military identification earned him some street cred Tuesday, when he says four men who mugged him at gunpoint returned his belongings and thanked him for his service after finding the ID.

Serving those who have served us well -- [The Statesman]
Patti Patton-Bader's living room is filled nearly to the ceiling with cardboard boxes containing packages for wounded soldiers. Soon, they will make their way from her Bastrop home to hospitals and bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, where soldiers will find clothing with fabric-fastener flaps to replace flimsy paper hospital gowns, as well as phone cards to call home once they reach Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and a "blanket of hope" -- a personalized quilt handmade by a Soldiers' Angels volunteer.
Patton-Bader, the grandniece of Gen. George S. Patton, started the group shortly after her son Brandon deployed to Iraq in 2003.

Standing Tall in Harm's Way -- [Washington Post - David Ignatius]
...This picture of a traumatized military is misleading. Certainly, the Army and the other services are stressed by the demands of combat. But what's striking to me this Veterans Day is how healthy the military is, given all the weight it has been carrying for the country these past eight years.

Vietnam Myths Haunt Afghanistan -- [Washington Times]
Adm. Jeremiah A. Denton Jr. is a true American hero. The former senator, retired admiral and naval aviator spent almost eight years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, half of that time in solitary confinement. When forced by his captors to do a television interview in 1966, he blinked the word "torture" in Morse code. He's the kind of man Washington leaders might want to listen to more carefully than the average purveyor of foreign-policy wisdom. Adm. Denton's classic account of his experiences, "When Hell Was in Session," is being re-released today, updated with a new epilogue. In part, Adm. Denton seeks to "correct some of the mythology of the Vietnam War." The version of the war that has come down through pop culture, the media and history books is fatally flawed - and those flaws may well be informing critical decisions at the White House.

Veterans Day - Part II - It's About The Living -- [BlackFive]
Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas embraces Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. during a Veterans Day commemoration in Dallas. Graunke lost a hand, a leg and and eye when he was injured by a bomb...

Ripley At The Bridge -- [The Anti-Chomskyan Redoubt]
This article, written by Jeremias Wells, tells of one of the most harrowing and heroic stories of the war in Vietnam.
Ripley's American adviser contact continued to give him bad news. Practically all resistance north of the bridge had been wiped out, which was probably the source of the ARVN deserters clogging the road along with the refugees. Then came the final blow: "We finally got a spotter plane in the air. They have tanks and armored personnel carriers stretched along Highway 1 for miles. Must be at least two hundred."
Ripley shouted back, "We can't stop that many. We have to blow the bridge at Dong Ha."
...Ripley worked his way over to the downstream side and repeated the process and then hand-walked back to the fence. He realized that he had exceeded all normal human endurance, so again turned to God and His Mother: "Jesus and Mary, get me there! Jesus and Mary, get me there..." He climbed back through the razor wire once more and fell to the ground near the abutment in a bloody heap. He was so tired that he could hardly lift his arm. The major tapped him on the back. "Look what I found. But you won't need them now." He pointed to a box of electrical detonators. Ripley looked at the caps and realized that he had to go through the ordeal under the bridge once again. He had always been taught to rig up a backup charge if one was available, At this point, the substance of a man takes over.

Veteran's Day 2009 -- [John of Argghhh!!!]
Today is my day. Today is SWWBO's day. Today is Dusty's day. Today is Bill's day. Neffi's, Bloodspite's, Sanger's, Jim B's, Mike L's, Jim C's, John S', V29's, Sergeant B's, 1SG Keith's, Oldloadr's, 74's, CAPT H's, a certain Canadian Gunner who shall remain nameless, a certain Redleg Captain who shall remain nameless, RetRsvMike's, the 'Phibian's, Lex's, Matty's, Chuck's, Fishmugger, John(NTA), Heartless Libertarian's, Kevin's, Grumpy's, Grimmy's, the list is endless, and I know I didn't list everybody - feel free to add yourself in the comments. That would be a nice touch, actually.

How I will spend this Veterans Day -- [Burn Pit - MOTHAX]
...I almost never venture forth from my bloggers lair on Veterans Day. I have a face made for radio as the saying is, and I don't really like crowds. So it is the one time a year when I play the "Veterans prerogative" and simply stay home and don't do much of anything. A few years ago I got to spend a Veterans Day with all the folks at the White House and other veterans groups, and that was nice, but again, I prefer to spend the day alone. I generally call some of my friends and wish them a happy Veterans Day, but conversely when they call me to wish the same, I feel kinda silly. It's almost like Veterans Day doesn't apply to me. It applies to WWII vets, Korean War vets, the guys and gals who fought in Viet Nam, but not to me. Part of my feeling is that my war isn't over. Everyone can thank us when it is done, but for now, there is a lot more to do.

Marines of the Day: SSgt. Theodore "Sam" Holder and LCpl. Kyle Burns -- [Villainous Company]
Veterans' Day is for the living. Memorial Day is for the fallen.
That said, for those in 1st LAR, Veterans' Day 2004 is when the unit lost Holder and Burns in the second battle of Fallujah. Today is the 5th anniversary of their deaths.

Veterans Day -- [Neptunus Lex]
...In this land we are graced with a vibrant political culture, but it was Washington's guns and musketeers who gave it to us. We enjoy the remote fastness of our island home, but it was Decatur, Farragut and Porter who scoured the seas to defend our ocean ramparts. We have human freedom and increasing dignity here at home, but not before three million boys in blue and butternut contended the terms of that freedom. We have liberal democracies here and abroad, but not before millions more marched forth asking for nothing but a patch of earth to be buried in, should it come to that.
There are many blessings in this land, but although we tend to treat them as birthrights, transferable to our heirs in perpetuity, the reality is that all of them have been fought over. Perhaps the greatest blessing of all is that in each generation there have been those who answered their country's call when it came and said, "I'll go. I'll do it. Pick me."
They are the veterans, and this is our day to thank them.

I'm the one they call Doc -- [ROK Drop]
Many brave Marines wouldn't be alive today without the aid of the hospital corpsman who labored hard and often bravely to keep their fellow men alive. Did you know 22 of us have won the Medal of Honor? I used to be able to roll off the names by memory, but I'm getting old and my memory isn't as good. Did a spot check this morning and remembered 17 of them. The US Marines rely on specially trained HM aka battlefield corpsmen to go into harm's way in order to treat and save men who fall in battle.Why did I say us earlier? I was a Hospital Corpsman from 1980 to 1989.

On Veteran's Day -- [Foreign Object Damage]
On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month, a salute to America's Veterans. Also a salute to the wives and husbands of those who served. While we were out flying, riding, or walking somewhere, they held down the home front. And worried.
Years later my wife told me of how her heart would sink if ...

Veteran's Day 2009 -- [Miserable Donuts]
Veteran's Day. Growing up it usually meant a day off from school. And as I got older, I started to learn what it meant to the Veteran most involved in my life...
Dad, home on leave, from the Navy in 1945. Later I learned what it meant to an uncle...

MICHELLE OBAMA AND JILL BIDEN JOIN SERVICENATION ON VETERANS DAY TO LAUNCH MISSION SERVE: FORGING A CONTINUUM OF SERVICE -- [Service Nation]
Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Alma J. Powell, three of the nation's most inspiring advocates of service, will join ServiceNation today to launch MISSION SERVE: Forging a Continuum of Service. The initiative gets underway by partnering more than 50 civilian and military service organizations in 36 programs designed to more closely integrate service to country with service to community, helping grow the service movement that is critical to America's future success.
The First Lady and Dr. Biden will join hundreds of active-duty service members, veterans, military families, and volunteers representing service organizations at a ceremony on Veterans Day at George Washington University. Also speaking at the event will be Undersecretary of the Army Dr. Joseph W. Westphal and Major General Steven R. Abt, Deputy Commander, US Army Accessions Command, which has been a leader in partnering with ServiceNation.

AFGHANISTAN

In Afghanistan, Taliban Surpasses al-Qaeda -- [Washington Post]
As violence rises in Afghanistan, the power balance between insurgent groups has shifted, with a weakened al-Qaeda relying increasingly on the emboldened Taliban for protection and the manpower to carry out deadly attacks, according to US military and intelligence officials. The ascendancy of the Taliban and the relative decline of al-Qaeda have broad implications for the Obama administration as it seeks to define its enemy in Afghanistan and debates deploying tens of thousands of additional troops.

Bringing Him Home -- [The Military Observer]
Kandahar, Afghanistan. They call it a "Dignified Transfer," which is Pentagon-ese for bringing home the body of one of our young men.
Two days ago I flew here from Camp Bastion on a cargo flight. The plane was virtually empty; five passengers and me, the small Air Force crew, and covered by an American flag, the remains of one of our troops killed in Helmand Province. The military's goal is to bring our dead back home within 48 hours, and this was the first leg of such a journey.

Obama Receives New Afghan Option -- [Wall Street Journal]
'Hybrid' Compromise Would Combine Troops, Trainers to Hold Back Taliban and Boost Local Military
President Barack Obama on Wednesday will consider a new compromise plan for adding troops to Afghanistan that would deploy 30,000 to 35,000 new forces, including as many as 10,000 military trainers, over the next year or more.

Obama Aides Accuse Pentagon of Pressuring President Over Afghanistan -- [Daily Telegraph]
Aides to Barack Obama have complained that the Pentagon is trying to force the president into committing large numbers of reinforcements to Afghanistan through leaks to the media. Tensions between the White House and senior members of the US armed forces are rising over the toughest decision the president has faced in his first year. Senior military officials and Republicans have accused him of dithering over the troop request from Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US and NATO commander in Afghanistan.

Taliban expands control of Nuristan -- [Al Jazeera]
Taliban fighters are expanding their control of Afghanistan's Nuristan province, an area they claim to have recaptured from US troops.
A video obtained exclusively by Al Jazeera purports to show Taliban fighters in the Kamdesh district.

For the Night of 10 November 2009 -- [NightWatch]
An Afghan Taliban spokesman described follow-on activities in Kamdesh District, Konar Province, after NATO and Coalition forces abandoned their operating bases and retreated. The area is currently under the control of Taliban, who walk freely in the district, according to al Jazeera.
...The significance of the report is that it exposes as false the idea that the presence of Coalition forces creates instability and that their withdrawal would restore quiet normality. On the contrary, in the absence of Coalition forces, the Taliban moved in to establish their own administration.

Britain to Train 10,000 More Afghan Troops to Speed Up Withdrawal -- [The Times]
Britain is to help to train 10,000 extra Afghan soldiers to serve in Helmand to bring forward the date when British troops can be withdrawn from parts of the province and replaced by Afghanistan's national army. Under an Afghan-surge plan being discussed between Washington and London, British and American troops in Helmand would split the responsibility 50-50, taking part in an accelerated programme to boost the number of Afghan soldiers and police in the province to more than 17,000.

Neutics -- [Hermeneutics: Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
...Trying to understand why God has placed me in such a desolate place and how He will use me here. To ascertain the purpose of my position when I am not doing the job I was trained for. Most of all how the distance between Jocelyn and I will once again work for good in our marriage. Essentially this is a format to record my thoughts and hopes in lieu of a written journal. Someday this experience will be a foggy memory and I want to be able to recognize the role this year played in my formation and future decisions.

A SAT dish of the wrong proportions, swarms of flies and dust -- [The Kitchen Dispatch]
Since the beginning of October, The Hubs and the FST have been trying to move into a different building. Progress was hindered by several things. Lack of a sink, an electrical generator blow up, and no Satellite for either TV or internet. This caused a delay, which resulted in a pissing contest with the arrival of another unit who had expected to move into the old buildings. Finally, after getting things somewhat squared away, they are in. "We are completely moved. It is big and,roomy, but we have swarms of flies due to the presence of goats and cows. We are going to get double outside screen doors and miles of flypaper. Also, we are engulfed in clouds of Afghan moon dust every few minutes when the winds or swirls of planes pass by.

Another >GAG< Trip To Bagram -- [Afghan Quest - in Afghanistan]
...There are Soldiers and Marines all over this country who get squat... even water... while Bagram has "Karaoke Nite" and "Salsa Nite." Then the spoiled wonders there even have the temerity to rant out loud about not getting beef with their pepperoni for their Pizza Hut pizza (delivered, no less). Now, I can't fault them for making their lives as comfortable as possible, but there is silly and then there is ridiculous. Salsa Nite is silly.
Housing the warriors who normally live in Spartan conditions that the fobbits at Bagram would riot over in those pathetic "transient tents" is ridiculous. You do not see field grade officers spending the night in those wretched holes called "transient tents."

A Wild Ride on a Stallion -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
All I can say is that today's ride made this entire Afghanistan trip worth the price of admission.
The day started slowly, with cold rain, mud, and a still uneasy queasy feeling after battling a persistent case of moderate GI illness.

On the road again -- [There's sand in my... -- heading out of Afghanistan]
So far the WTP, Warrior Transition Program, has been surprisingly well coordinated, hard to believe being run by the Navy and everything. Haha. After the Marine run we come back and turn in our 2 seabags of gear that was never used, that will be a load off of our minds, literally. After the turn in I'll be down to a 2/3 full seabag and a carry on, traveling light will be a welcome change. I'm at the point now that I throw away a pair of socks, underwear and t-shirt after each use, since everything has a wonderful light brown tint to it from the laundry in Kandahar. I'm under the impression that our decompression classes start on Wednesday, and continue through Thursday and then we're outta here. I love the feeling you get when the wheels leave the ground for the last time, it's incredible.

NATO, Afghan Forces Seize 250 Tons of Bomb Material (Update1) -- [Bloomberg]
The Afghan National Police and NATO- led forces seized 250 tons (225,000 kilograms) of bomb-making material in an operation in the southern province of Kandahar, the alliance said.

Marines Provide Clean Water to Afghans, Keep Area Safe -- [ISAF - in Afghanistan]
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, recently funded a well construction project to provide clean water for local Afghans.
The project, funded by 1/5's civil affairs Marines, also created jobs in the community, as local Afghan workers were contracted to dig three wells.
"Having these wells built is something that people have been asking us to do for a while now," said Cpl. Leland Van Leer, an amphibious assault vehicle operator with 1/5. "Now that we were able to get them dug, they see that we can help them."

Bomb Rocks Northwestern Pakistan -- [Voice of America]
A suicide car bomb attack in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least 30 people, including some children. Investigators say the bomb exploded Tuesday on a busy street near a market in the city of Charsadda, some 40 kilometers north of Peshawar. The blast wounded dozens of people and destroyed several buildings. It was the third bombing in the area in three days.

IRAQ

Veterans at Work on Veterans Day -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes - in Iraq]
Sala ad Dihn Province, Iraq -- In the US many Americans barely notice Veterans Day. The banks and post offices are closed. Federal Employees have the day off. Some states and local governments may be closed.
There are ceremonies and memorial services. But here in Iraq it is another day at work in a combat zone.
The Soldiers of the 1-28 Infantry, the Black Lions, went about their work.

As We Stand Down, Can They Stand Up? -- [Weekly Standard - Max Boot]
One way to chart the recent course of Iraq's history is by the vehicles that American soldiers drive. When I first came here in the summer of 2003, I remember riding around in open-top, unarmored Humvees. By 2004, a spate of IEDs had made it necessary to move to up-armored Humvees, followed a few years later by heavier MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles that look as if they wandered off the set of a Star Wars movie. When last here in 2008, I went everywhere in a hulking MRAP. Imagine my surprise, then, to find myself being driven in late October from Camp Victory, the main US base on the outskirts of Baghdad, into the center of town along Route Irish, once notorious as the world's most dangerous road, in a lightly armored Chevrolet Suburban that could not withstand a roadside bomb.

Efforts Focus on Iraq's Election, US Commander Says -- [Defense Link]
A US commander in Baghdad today said all efforts are focused on helping Iraqi forces provide security for upcoming national elections in Iraq. Army Col. Gregory Lusk, commander of the North Carolina National Guard's 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, joined a chorus of US officials praising the Iraqi Parliament's passage this week of key legislation that paves the way for balloting in January. "With the recent passing of the election law, Iraq has indeed reached an important milestone," he said by satellite in a Pentagon news conference. "All of our efforts since our day of arrival have been dedicated towards accomplishing this goal and setting the conditions and supporting the Iraqi desires for holding these important elections."

Kuwait -- [Sorority Soldier - leaving Iraq]
I can't describe the happiness that's overtaking me. I'm in Kuwait. Away from Iraq forever. Elation.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Soldiers, Family Come Together To Grieve at Fort Hood -- [Voice of America]
President Obama spoke at a memorial ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, Tuesday for the 13 people who died there last week when a gunman opened fire at the large military base. The alleged attacker, who was wounded by police, is an army psychiatrist. The attack on a domestic base, allegedly by a fellow soldier has saddened and shocked many servicemen and their families. The signs of grief are not hard to miss at Fort Hood. Flowers and messages are displayed around the sign at the main entrance and there is a subdued tone on base. But the soldiers carry on and the military family pulls together.

North, South Korean Ships Exchange Gunfire -- [Washington Post]
A brief naval skirmish erupted Tuesday between North and South Korea, raising tension in Northeast Asia as President Obama prepares this week for a visit to the region. The North and the South blamed each other for the exchange of gunfire - the first such clash in seven years. South Korean officials said a badly damaged North Korean patrol ship retreated in flames after crossing into South Korean waters. It was not clear whether there were any injuries or deaths aboard the North Korean vessel. North Korea issued a statement that blamed the South for "grave armed provocation," saying that ships from South Korea crossed into the North's territory.

North Korean Ship "Wrapped in Flames" After Battle; No South Korean Sailors Hurt -- [One Free Korea]
Most people have already forgotten that in May of this year, North Korea unilaterally declared an end to the 1953 armistice. We've forgotten because Kim Jong Il has few military options against the South that wouldn't inevitably result in either a military embarrassment or more escalation than he's prepared for.
If Yonhap's "wrapped in flames" report is accurate, this could have the makings of a military embarrassment and serious harm to morale within the North Korean navy. That's why it's essential for the regime's domestic propaganda machinery to report an alternative reality. That also illustrates why breaking down the information blockade and saturating North Korea with alternative sources of information can help preserve peace in the region.

Is Russia Playing Both Sides on Iran Nukes? -- [Christian Science Monitor]
Iran's failure to respond to an international offer to enrich much of its uranium stockpile outside the country - for use in a Tehran medical research facility - is again raising the prospect of tougher sanctions. Much of the focus of the sanctions debate is falling on Russia, which has blown hot and cold on additional punitive measures on Iran over its nuclear program - but which is sounding open to the idea once again. The attention is reviving lingering questions about Russian assistance - either official or unauthorized - to Iran's nuclear program and weapons research.

China Ready to Welcome President Obama -- [Voice of America]
Sino-American relations are likely to get a boost when President Barack Obama comes to China later this month. The potential to work together to combat climate change is expected to overshadow more contentious issues, such as trade, military relations and human rights. From tentative beginnings in the 1970's, Sino-American ties have grown into what is often described as one of the most important relationships in the world. China was one highlight of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's first trip abroad. "The inter-dependent world in which we live requires us to find new ways to collaborate and cooperate in the face of unprecedented global challenges and untapped global opportunities," she stated.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Military Not Told About Ft. Hood Suspect's E-mails -- [Los Angeles Times]
Two high-profile anti-terrorism task forces did not inform the Defense Department about contacts between a radical Islamic cleric and the Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people in last week's rampage at Ft. Hood, a senior Defense official said Tuesday. On the day of a memorial service for those killed at the Texas military base, the revelation compounded questions about whether the government had known enough in advance to stop the gunman. The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Forces investigated e-mails that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan sent over the last year to Anwar al Awlaki, an imam in Yemen who espouses a radical Islamist ideology and who has ties to militants. However, officials said, task force members concluded that the communications posed no threat and had been undertaken as part of Hasan's research on Muslims, the military and post-traumatic stress disorders. Defense officials said Tuesday that the department did not learn about Hasan's contacts with Awlaki until after the Ft. Hood shootings.

Taliban: Fort Hood Killer a "Hero", Warn of Further Attacks -- [Jawa Report]
What, you thought the Taliban would condemn the attack? Note, also, that the Taliban dismiss the notion that Hasan was motivated by a psychological breakdown:

Two Sides, Same Coin -- [Baldilocks]
Lots of things going on today, but two of them seem to demonstrate one of my convictions that there is no such thing as a coincidence.
John Allen Muhammad--the lead Beltway Sniper--is scheduled to be executed today at 6PM 9PM EST in Virginia.

Justice and Guantanamo Bay -- [Wall Street Journal]
This past Sunday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the administration will decide by Nov. 16 which Guantanamo detainees will be tried in military commissions trials, and which of them will stand trial in federal courts. But a decision to use both legal settings is a mistake. It will establish a dangerous legal double standard that gives some detainees superior rights and protections, and relegates others to the inferior rights and protections of military commissions. This will only perpetuate the perception that Guantanamo and justice are mutually exclusive. President George W. Bush authorized military commissions in November 2001, and President Barack Obama ordered them stopped in January 2009.

Qaeda militant incites Sunnis against Shiites, Iran -- [AFP Global Edition]
A commander of an Al-Qaeda-linked group warned Islam's majority Sunnis that the Shiites and Iran pose a greater "danger" to their religion than Jews or Christians, a US monitoring group said on Tuesday.
"We call on the nation ... to stand by (Sunnis) with whatever means they can against the danger of Iran and those who follow (the Shiite) faith in the region," Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Rashid of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said in an audio recording carried by SITE Intelligence group

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Muggers Return Wallet After Seeing Army ID -- [FOX News]
Muggers Return Wallet After Seeing Army ID, A Milwaukee Army reservist's military identification earned him some street cred Tuesday, when he says four men who mugged him at gunpoint returned his belongings and thanked him for his service after finding the ID.

Vets Offered Free Meal this Veteran's Day at Applebee's -- [ROK Drop]
Just a reminder to everyone that Applebee's once again has their promotion of a free meal for veterans

Applebee's, Golden Corral, M&S salute vets with free food -- [USA Today]
Three major casual-dining chains --Applebee's, McCormick & Schmick's and Golden Corral-- are offering free food to veterans and, in most cases, active-duty military personnel in observance of Veterans Day.

WELCOME BACK VETERANS.org -- [Soldier's Mom]
I know you'll be celebrating Veteran's Day this Thursday. But if you are looking for an extra way to honor our Veterans, this might be up your alley.
Major League Baseball and Welcome Back Veterans are asking people to share their message of thanks to American veterans: http://www.welcomebackveterans.org/thanks

War hero's family calls book a 'dishonor' -- [HometownAnnapolis]
On this, the 234th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, a new book about Annapolis - and national - hero Col. John Ripley is coming under fire from the late Marine's family.
Ripley's daughter, Annapolis resident Mary Ripley, called Fulkerson's picture of her father "a dishonor" to his memory.

MILITARY

Standing Tall in Harm's Way -- [Washington Post]
In the aftermath of the Fort Hood shootings, some commentaries have examined the damage to the US Army from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A few have spoken about the alleged shooter, Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, as an extreme version of what can happen with an overstressed force. This picture of a traumatized military is misleading. Certainly, the Army and the other services are stressed by the demands of combat. But what's striking to me this Veterans Day is how healthy the military is, given all the weight it has been carrying for the country these past eight years. Facing a new and disorienting kind of warfare, the military has learned and adapted. Rather than complain about their problems, soldiers have figured out ways to solve them. In truth, the US military may be the most resilient part of American society right now.

Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier... -- [Bouhammer]
Well today is the it, my very last day in the Army. I can't believe this day is here. Over 22 1/2 years in the Army ends today. In reality it is really 40+ years in the Army. I was born at Ft. Bragg, NC and have been holding either a dependent or active duty ID card ever since. I mean I will have a retired ID card later this week, which looks like the dependent ones today, but the time of serving as a soldier is ending. My time of being a leader of men, a caregiver to the soul of the young and confused, a motivator to those that are un-motivated is ending. It probably ended back in July when I turned over my last company and took off the diamond for the first time since getting it put on me over seven years ago. That was a painful day to remove the one rank that I always sought, but I can't be greedy.

Choosing Between Family and the Military -- [Center For American Progress]
Approximately 70 immigrant soldiers in the US military from 35 countries pledge their allegiance to the United States during a welcome home naturalization

WELCOME HOME

Soldier Gets Surprise Welcome Home -- [WNEP-TV]
A family gathered Tuesday night to welcome home a soldier from Iraq. He's on a break from his fourth tour in that war-torn country.

At Fort Hood, day of mourning ends with celebration -- [CNN]
Teary wives and girlfriends and moms and dads hold the hands of children bearing signs like Zachariah Wolf's: "Welcome home bestest daddy.

THE MEDIA

How the New York Times does Veterans Day -- [Blackfive]
I know you're not surprised. I guess I still expect more from "professionals". For posterity, here's a screen shot of the NYTimes Veterans Day Section (archive):

CBS's Smith: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars to Blame for Ft. Hood Shooting -- [NewsBusters]
Interviewing Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Wednesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith cited a cause of the shooting at Ft. Hood: "...the Iraq war, the escalation in number of cases of post traumatic stress disorder...the more people go back to these fields, these theaters of war, either in Iraq or Afghanistan, it multiplies the incidence of these kinds of things occurring."

POLITICS

Obama, World Leaders Honor Veterans on Anniversary of End WWI -- [Voice of America]
U.S. President Barack Obama will mark the first Veterans Day observance of his presidency Wednesday with a traditional wreath-laying ceremony and speech at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.

The Potemkin Color Guard -- [CDR Salamander]
You have worked long and hard to reach a high profile position, as those who came before you had. You did everything that was asked of you, and more. You believed in a system that told you all you had to do was work hard, pay attention to detail, excel in your efforts, show exceptional dedication, and demonstrate professionalism better than those around you. Do that, you were told, and you will be rewarded.
The day prior to the event you are told that those in power decided to remove you and a friend from the position you worked so long and hard for. You wonder, "What did we do? Why?"
...The reason is rather simple; those in positions of authority did not like your race and gender. Nothing that you did - no - not that. Nothing personal - just business, you know.
Simply by being born, you have been found wanting, and unworthy.
On 29 OCT, the USNA Color Guard made an appearance at the World Series. The day prior to their appearance, two Midshipmen were removed from the Color Guard by senior Commissioned Officers in leadership positions at Annapolis for one simple reason; they were white males. That isn't a guess on their part - that is what they were told.

In Congress, injured vets signing on for duty -- [Washington Post]
Fellowship program helps steer returning wounded to jobs on the Hill
... Lasko confronted the existential question faced by thousands of veterans too injured for active service: What now?
"Anybody coming back, any young veterans coming out, you're saying, 'What next?' " says Lasko, 26. It's not easy getting established in the civilian world. "You did your time in the military. In our cases, we're injured, so we're at another disadvantage."
Lasko found his way to one of the more unusual internship programs on Capitol Hill.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN

At Our Worst -- [Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
In Afghanistan, reporters were scrambling for local "reaction" to the story. This herd mentality demonstrates again how far contemporary journalism has fallen from its social mission. Rather than bringing the war zone they were assigned to cover to their audience, many reporters--on their own or at the urging of editors--quickly reverted to bringing their audience's fixation on another story into the war zone. Fortunately, this approach didn't supply much useful carrion for the news vultures. It turns out that there wasn't a unit in Afghanistan larger than a company from Ft. Hood. It also turns out that the reaction of the average G.I. in Afghanistan wasn't much different from the reaction of the average G.I. back home, with the exception of the occasional, unspoken, guilty sense of relief that today there was a place where it was more dangerous to be than where you were.

Don't blame MPs for Fort Hood shootings -- [A Wold Away - in Afghanistan]
Before we deployed, Ft. Hood was my duty station, and I will be returning there upon redeployment. When I heard about that shooting business, I thought they would blame the security guards or the MP's for what happened, and that simply isn't fair.

NATO, Afghans claim to kill 130 Taliban in Kunduz -- [Reuters]
NATO and Afghan officials claimed on Monday their forces had killed at least 130 Taliban fighters in a major operation over the past week in an area of Afghanistan's north where militant activity has surged.
A combined force of 700 Afghan troops and 50 NATO soldiers cleared villages of fighters, killing more than 130 insurgents including eight Taliban commanders during a five-day operation, NATO spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Todd Vician said.

All Afghan War Options by Obama Aides Said to Call for More Troops -- [New York Times]
Advisers to President Obama are preparing three options for escalating the war effort in Afghanistan, all of them calling for more American troops, as he moves closer to a decision on the way forward in the eight-year-old war, officials said Saturday. The options include Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal's request for roughly another 40,000 troops; a middle scenario sending about 30,000 more troops; and a lower alternative involving 20,000 to 25,000 reinforcements, according to the officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Officials hope to present the options to Mr. Obama this week before he leaves on a trip to Asia. While some civilian and military officials believe Mr. Obama is seeking a middle ground in the debate over Afghanistan, aides denied he has made any decision or is leaning toward any of the options.

Turkey Shoot -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
While enjoying a morning cup of coffee and checking email up on the Baba Deck with a group of friends who are in from the States we saw what was clearly the signature of a tanker attack just up the road. That has never happened this close to Jalalabad before so we conducted a brief staff meeting which consisted of saying "let's go" and headed up the road to see what was what.

Very Bold -- [Knights of Afghanistan in Afghanistan]
I wasn't in the area at the time, but yesterday the bad guys hit another fuel convoy out on the Jalalabad road. Blogger Tim Lynch gives a good recap
...the bad guys seemed to have been more deliberate. They came with a larger force than usual, and stayed long enough to light up at least four of the tankers. As Tim points out, that perhaps wasn't really wise, since they lingered long enough to be engaged by three different elements, the tankers' own PSC convoy escorts, the ANP (better late than never) and a pair of Kiowa scout choppers out of JAF. End result, four burned tankers and a very bad day for an undetermined number of bad guys.

The Tribes -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
A Bottom Up Approach - The last post generated quite a few interesting comments about the Steven Pressfield Blog, Chief Ajmal Khan Zazai, and the prospect of using specialized troops to embed with the tribes and possible be used for cross border sanctuary denial work. With the election now decided this is an excellent time to talk about the tribes and more importantly a bottom up approach. The government in Kabul is not going to change - in fact they are already firing a shot across the bow of the entire international community sending a message that is easy to decipher. Check out this email which came from a senior security manager in Kabul last night: Dear All, Last night the Lounge Restaurant in Wazir Akbar Khan was raided by police and all their liquor confiscated. They were also on their way to Gandamak but it was already closed. I made a phone call to the Regional Police Commander for Kabul who confirmed that the police is indeed conducting raids on restaurants for 2 reasons

US, Afghans Target Taliban Region -- [Wall Street Journal]
US and Afghan forces are engaging in heavy fighting against the resurgent Taliban militants in the Kunduz and Badghis provinces of northern Afghanistan, pushing into once-peaceful areas overseen by European allies. In restive Kunduz province bordering Tajikistan, US special operations forces and the Afghan army have carried out a major offensive against the Taliban over the past several days in the Chahar Dara district, a Taliban stronghold near the provincial capital, officials said. "This is the biggest operation seen so far," said Kunduz Gov. Mohammad Omar. "We've been able to kill a lot of Taliban."

Street smarts -- [Embedded in Afghanistan... in Afghanistan]
In an insurgency, when so much of the enemy's advantage lies in the element of surprise and its ability to hide among the populace, the power of perception and ability to 'sense' trouble become of the utmost importance. It's a skill we try to acquire in training, but some will always be better than others. I do believe awareness can be developed, and that the mind picks up on much more than we're consciously aware. Some days when we went out, just a few moments in the local area and we could feel that we're were going to receive some enemy 'attention' at some point. It's was not necessarily an absence of people or dirty looks that would alert us, just...something, and in time we learned to listen to those feelings.

Afghanistan: Marines Bring Some Calm in Helmand -- [Los Angeles Times]
When 500 US Marines descended on this Taliban stronghold overnight, Afghan civilians were immediately suspicious about the intentions of the heavily armed Americans. One question dominated all others: How long will the Americans stay? Five months later, there is still no clear answer. "The No. 1 question the Marines get is: 'When are you going home?' " said Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, an Iraq combat veteran and now the top Marine in Afghanistan. "They can't believe we're staying."

A hope in Helmand -- [The Guardian]
The news from Afghanistan has been grim. The collapse of the second round of the national elections; Hamid Karzai's government tainted by corruption; and, last week, five British soldiers killed by a rogue Afghan policeman in Nad-e'Ali. All the while, Washington continues to dither over its strategy. Small wonder that the British public have lost faith in this war: 57% now think it unwinnable.
However, on the ground in Afghanistan things look a little more optimistic. I have just spent two weeks in Helmand, talking to dozens of civilian stabilisation advisers and military officers.

Allied Forces 'May Abandon Most of Northern Helmand' -- [The Times]
A new strategy for Afghanistan that could lead to a British troop withdrawal from a former Taleban stronghold in northern Helmand province sparked immediate controversy yesterday. According to a senior Nato source, Western military commanders in Afghanistan are considering a radical shift in policy that would see British and US forces conduct a tactical pull-out from most of northern Helmand, including the town of Musa Qala.

[British] Army Wants to Retreat in Afghanistan -- [The Times]
Army chiefs are drawing up plans to withdraw British troops from outlying bases in Afghanistan. In what would be a significant change of strategy against the growing Taliban insurgency, they are considering abandoning several bases including Musa Qala, the scene of bloody battles that claimed 15 British lives. Army forces would attempt to hold only the larger towns in Helmand province.

Armed Forces Reputation is at Risk in Afghanistan, MoD Chiefs Warn -- [The Times]
The long-term future and reputation of Britain's Armed Forces is at risk unless progress is made in Afghanistan, the two most senior officials at the Ministry of Defence warn in an internal document seen by The Times.

Afghan-International Forces Operational Update for Nov. 9; Missing Service Members Update; ISAF CasualtyShare -- [ISAF]
KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 9) - Afghan-international security forces conducted clearing operations Nov. 1 through 6 in the Chahar Dara district of the northern region of Kunduz province, killing more than 130 insurgents including eight Taliban commanders.
More than 750 Afghan and International forces took part in the operation to stop insurgent activity and weapons trafficking in the Chahar Dara district. The team also disrupted the insurgent shadow governor in Kunduz province.

Fayzabad فيذ آباد -- [Doc H's International Adventure -- in Afghanistan]
There are many building projects and bridges being constructed. We had a good view of the local Buzkashi field while we were travelling to the clinic site. There are at least 5 tiers of hills and mountains in the distance. The highest ones to the east are at least 12,000 feet high and have snow on them.
The people are different than those found in either Kabul or Mazar e Sharif. While there are Tajiks and some Uzbek features to most of the people, there are also a good number of people who resemble the Aryans with caucasian features. The people appear to be poorer, but more productive and peaceful than other areas of Afghanistan.

Rebooting Afghanistan's Low-Tech Air Force -- [Danger Zone]
Afghanistan needs to radically increase its ground forces, if the Kabul government is going to have any hope of stabilizing the country. But almost as important is beefing up the country's low-tech, often-overlooked air force.

Tradition -- [There's sand in my... -- in Afghanistan]
This is the last entry from "beautiful" Kandahar, really this time! There will be more entries to follow from the trip home. Very short entry this time, but needed to close this trip out. I don't know if it is an official tradition to have a cigar at the end of a deployment, but it has been the case on my three deployments.

IRAQ

Is This What Victory Looks Like? -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes - in Iraq]
I do not know what victory looks like in a counter insurgency. With the recent bombing in Baghdad it is hard to say that a true victory and a true peace has been achieved. There are still deadly attacks on US troops.
The true success of the war in Iraq will be revealed in the coming months and years.
But what is for sure is that the fight is now being waged by the Iraqi police and, to a lesser degree, the Iraqi army.

Snapshots from Tikrit -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes - in Iraq]
...Before sitting down to talk security, politics and economics, the officers took their boots off. Note the M-4s are still there and loaded

Iraqi Parliament Passes Election Law After Reaching Deal on Kirkuk -- [Washington Post]
Iraqi lawmakers passed an election law Sunday night, overcoming a weeks-long impasse and averting a constitutional crisis that threatened to delay the US troop drawdown. The vote was held during a rare evening session preceded by intense lobbying efforts by US and UN diplomats, who had grown increasingly frustrated by the sluggish pace of negotiations and the acrimony that characterized them. "This was amazing for me," Kurdish lawmaker Ala Talabani said after leaving the session.

Flags at Half Staff -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
All the flags on Camp Adder are at half staff to honor the dead at Fort Hood. One of the national guard brigades where a friend of mine works flies the Texas State Flag next to Old Glory. Last night at dinner she was saying everyone in her shop mobilized out of Hood and went through the facility where the shooting occurred. Many of the national guard soldiers are full time and work at Hood. They know people, civilians and military, who work at that facility and were frantic for a while wondering of someone they knew was a victim.

Iraqis Take Charge Of The View -- [Strategy Page]
November 9, 2009: As of October 26, the Iraqi Air Force took control of the American built air traffic control network that covers northern Iraq and adjacent countries. At the moment, Americans run most air traffic control in Iraq, mainly because it takes time to train Iraqi controllers. In addition, the U.S. military radars, because they often used classified equipment and procedures, that currently provide much of the coverage, have to be replaced by civilian equipment owned by the Iraqi government. Thus for the next few years, Iraqis won't control much of their own air space. But

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Twenty years ago today: The Berlin Wall falls -- [Hot Air]
Twenty years ago today, the most reviled symbol of Communist oppression got torn down by both the people it oppressed and the people it was intended to intimidate as the era of Soviet domination in Eastern Europe came to an abrupt and obvious end. Cheering throngs filled the streets as the Berlin Wall fell, with East Germany's soldiers reduced to the role of spectators as their state, for all intents and purposes, ceased to exist entirely. It was easily the climax of decades of Cold War -- and a moment of undeniable victory for the US and Western Europe

VEE Day -- [Jules Crittenden]
It's Victory in Eastern Europe Day. Though I kind of like the sound of "VUSSR Day." In Ivan's face. PO Putin a little ... for a change.
Obama of course couldn't make it to the festivities. It's an awkward one for him, given the recent retreat in the face of neo-Stalinism, and the fact that he'd have to give credit to one of his predecessors, or maybe sit and listen while others do ... it will be interesting, to see if Ronald Reagan does get any official nods.

Democracy Wins in Honduras -- [Weekly Standard]
The four-month Honduran political crisis appears to be over. Last week, Honduran officials signed an agreement to establish a provisional "unity" government and allow the Honduran Congress to determine the fate of Manuel Zelaya, who was removed as president in late June for constitutional violations. At first, some media outlets reported that the deal would automatically restore Zelaya as president, but that was inaccurate. Zelaya could be restored--but Honduran legislators will make the final call. The United States, which helped broker the accord, agreed to end sanctions against Honduras and recognize the legitimacy of its November 29 elections.

A New Mosque in Nicaragua Fires Up the Rumor Mill - [Wall Street Journal]
With just 300 or so Muslims in all of Nicaragua, it became an instant mystery here when a big new mosque suddenly seemed to spring up recently in a residential neighborhood. Like, who paid for it? The ever-present Managua rumor mill quickly turned to the government of Iran.

Hugo Chavez Tells Venezuela Troops to 'Prepare for War' with Colombia -- [The Times]
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez yesterday ordered the country's military to prepare for a possible armed conflict with Colombia, saying soldiers should be ready if the United States attempts to provoke a war between the South American neighbours. Mr Chavez said Venezuela could end up going to war with Colombia as tensions between them rise, and he warned that if a conflict broke out "it could extend throughout the whole continent".

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Suspect told 'There's something wrong with you' -- [AP]
"I told him, `There's something wrong with you,'" Osman Danquah, co-founder of the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen, told The Associated Press on Saturday. "I didn't get the feeling he was talking for himself, but something just didn't seem right."
Danquah assumed the military's chain of command knew about Hasan's doubts, which had been known for more than a year to classmates in a graduate military medical program. His fellow students complained to the faculty about Hasan's "anti-American propaganda," but said a fear of appearing discriminatory against a Muslim student kept officers from filing a formal written complaint.

Hasan a Muslim First, American Second? -- [Outside the Beltway]
In hindsight, it appears that Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the mass murderer who killed 14 (one of the soldiers killed, Francheska Velez, was six weeks pregnant) and wounded another 30 at Fort Hood, had long made it known that he sympathized with the enemy.

Authorities Scrutinize Links Between Fort Hood Suspect, Imam Said to Back al-Qaeda -- [Washington Post]
Federal investigators are examining possible links between Fort Hood shooting suspect Maj. Nidal M. Hasan and an American-born imam who US authorities say has become a supporter and leading promoter of al-Qaeda since leaving a Northern Virginia mosque, officials said. Hasan attended the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church in 2001, when its spiritual leader was Anwar al-Aulaqi, a figure who crossed paths with al-Qaeda associates, including two Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers, one senior US official said. Since Aulaqi left in 2002 and settled in Yemen, his lectures promoting the strategies of an al-Qaeda military leader have shown up in computer files of suspects in terrorism cases in the United States, Canada and Britain, officials said.

Alleged Fort Hood Shooter Frequented Local Strip Club -- [Fox News]
The Army psychiatrist authorities say killed 13 people and wounded 29 others at the Fort Hood Army Base Thursday was a recent and frequent customer at a local strip club, employees of the club told FoxNews.com exclusively.

Fort Hood Shooting: Texas Army Killer Linked to September 11 Terrorists -- [Daily Telegraph]
Major Nidal Malik Hasan worshipped at a mosque led by a radical imam said to be a "spiritual adviser" to three of the hijackers who attacked America on Sept 11, 2001. Hasan, the sole suspect in the massacre of 13 fellow US soldiers in Texas, attended the controversial Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Great Falls, Virginia, in 2001 at the same time as two of the September 11 terrorists, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt. His mother's funeral was held there in May that year. The preacher at the time was Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Yemeni scholar who was banned from addressing a meeting in London by video link in August because he is accused of supporting attacks on British troops and backing terrorist organisations.

Too Scared to Recognize Terrorism -- [Washington Times]
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was declared "not a terrorist" before the facts were out - even before officials were sure whether the attacker was alive or dead. Failing to honestly name a terrorist attack despite the evidence is as destructive and dishonest as leaping to call an attack terrorism without the facts to support that. Apparently, the claim was based largely on the fact that Maj. Hasan appears to have been a lone gunman. However, terrorism is defined not by the number of people involved, but by the motivations and intentions of the attacker. If reports about him are true, Maj. Hasan clearly was a terrorist. He reportedly was upset about the activities of the United States in the Middle East and purportedly had made postings about suicide attacks on jihadist forums.

Breaking: Extremist Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki Endorses Ft. Hood Massacre: "Nidal Hassan Did the Right Thing" -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Extremist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has just issued a new entry on his blog titled, "Nidal Hassan Did the Right Thing." Excerpts from the entry are reproduced in part below:

Followers of Anwar al-Awlaki Giddily Celebrate Ft. Hood Massacre -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Supporters of radical Yemeni-American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki--whose name has surfaced in connection with the investigation of Major Malik Nidal Hasan--are now championing Hasan's murder of thirteen U.S. military personnel last week at Ft. Hood in Texas. Upon learning of initial media reports of the Ft. Hood massacre, one frequent visitor posted a comment on al-Awlaki's blog, "Oh Allah, direct your forces against America, the centre of kufr and fasad. Oh Allah, direct your forces against America, the centre of kufr and fasad. Oh Allah, direct your forces against America, the centre of kufr and fasad... Mash'Allah another good news reaching us from Texas: more Kafir US soldiers in the Filthy U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, were smoked by the their own today:"

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Landstuhl honors the fallen -- [Greyhawk]
Psychiatric nurse practitioner Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, in her final Facebook entry hours before she was murdered by Nidal Hassan. "Warman had been at Fort Hood for only 24 hours to be processed for duty in Iraq, a deployment for which she had volunteered."

A memorial for Fort Hood victims
Please visit this memorial for the victims of the Fort Hood massacre. Post a candle in your profile and sign our guestlist. You can also leave your last farewell to the 12 people who died. May God bring consolation to their families.
We are trying to light up 1 million candles in 1 million profiles to show that we could build a community that seeks peace. Please join us.

George W. Bush makes secret visit to mourning families at Fort Hood; Laura Bush goes too -- [LA Times]
Last night former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura made a secret visit to the devastated military families at Fort Hood.
The Bushes instructed the commander of the mourning military base that they wanted no publicity. With their Secret Service detail, Bush and his wife made the 30 mile trip unannounced from their ranch near Crawford, Texas Friday evening.

Departing -- [One Marines View]
Try saying goodbye to your loved ones before you deploy. Then try saying good bye 5-6 times after flights get canceled. It's a gut check from hell. Thinking you are departing then all of a sudden you are not. Departing is hard enough for service members but even harder for families. Its never easy....it never gets easier.

MILITARY

Complications Grow for Muslims Serving Nation -- [New York Times]
Abdi Akgun joined the Marines in August of 2000, fresh out of high school and eager to serve his country. As a Muslim, the attacks of Sept. 11 only steeled his resolve to fight terrorism. But two years later, when Mr. Akgun was deployed to Iraq with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the thought of confronting Muslims in battle gave him pause. He was haunted by the possibility that he might end up killing innocent civilians. "It's kind of like the Civil War, where brothers fought each other across the Mason-Dixon line," Mr. Akgun, 28, of Lindenhurst, NY, who returned from Iraq without ever pulling the trigger. "I don't want to stain my faith, I don't want to stain my fellow Muslims, and I also don't want to stain my country's flag." Thousands of Muslims have served in the United States military - a legacy that some trace to the First World War. But in the years since Sept. 11, 2001, as the United States has become mired in two wars on Muslim lands, the service of Muslim-Americans is more necessary and more complicated than ever before.

USS New York Receives Official Commission -- [Defense Link]
A new Navy ship named in honor of the courage displayed by New York City's residents during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks received its official commission today. The USS New York recalls "the searing memories of Sept. 11" as well as "the bravery of the rescuers, the resolve of the survivors, the compassion of this city and the patriotism of this great country," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said during the ship's commissioning ceremony at New York City harbor. Clinton was a member of the US Senate representing New York state during 9/11.

WELCOME HOME

'Welcome home! We missed you!' -- [The Tennessean]
One person even brought a pack of small dogs sporting sweaters to welcome the troops home. Harless' 12-year-old son, David, wore a shirt with words for his

Plenty of reasons to be glad -- [The News Journal]
Earlier in the day, she and her younger brother, Xander, made a sign -- "Welcome Home, Daddy" -- complete with two exclamation points and a smile underneath

Ohio town to toast forgotten Vietnam veterans -- [The Associated Press]
Vietnam vets have been honored in recent years with a Welcome Home parade in Las Vegas and a homecoming celebration in Indianapolis; Minnesota has ...

THE MEDIA

He Who Shall Not Be Fact-Checked -- [Abu Muqawama]
Hey, look, everybody, Seymour Hersh has another article for the New Yorker. In this one, people told him a bunch of stuff, and him not wanting to make people feel bad, he went ahead and printed all of it. I have no idea what percentage of this article is true and what percentage is just some stuff people made up. I'm still coming to grips with having been a henchman in Dick Cheney's executive assassination ring, so you guys are on your own to make guesses in the comments section.

The need to believe -- [Greyhawk]
...There were conflicting versions of the story from the get-go - and that's just part of the truly awful job the national media did with the Ft Hood shooting story all around (local media did much better). The bottom line is: if you get your news from television and newspapers you're getting something other than news.

Why Are The Networks Talking About PTSD? -- [Afghan Quest - in Afghanistan]
What part of, "Allahu akhbar!" do they not understand?
For the second time in this war, we have had fratricide performed in the military ranks by a "Muslim convert." Neither of the perpetrators have been combat veterans. Neither of them suffered from PTSD. So why are CNN and MSNBC going on and on and on and on about PTSD? We've got an issue to discuss, and I don't have the solution; but that issue is not PTSD.
Not in this case.

PTSD -- [JR Salzman - Lumberjack in a Desert]
I'm more than a little angry right now. Yes, I'm irate that some shitbag Major ("shitbag" is often used as a technical term in the Army) opened fire on a group of his fellow Soldiers killing 12 and wounding 30. But that's not even what is under my skin right now. What is bothering me is the general reaction of our media and those stupid enough to think this was not an act of terrorism, but was caused by supposed PTSD caused at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
You want to know what fucking PTSD is like? I'll tell you. You have nightmares that go on for weeks. Mine would always be the same. Wherever the window was in the room in which I was sleeping I would see a bright white flash. I would wake up screaming to my wife "Get up! Get the fuck up! An IED just went off!"

TIME Magazine: "Secondary Trauma" May Have Driven Hasan to Slaughter 13 Soldiers -- [Gateway Pundit]
You've got to be kidding.
The state-run media thinks were all stupid.
TIME, the former news magazine, reported today that "secondary trauma" may have driven Nidal Hasan to massacre 13 US soldiers at Fort Hood.
Yahoo republished the report:

To Media, American Heroism Might As Well Be Urban Legend -- [Villainous Company]
How bizarre is it when the number two link on Google for Brian Chontosh, a bona fide war hero and recipient of the Navy Cross, goes to a site devoted to "debunking" urban myths?
Is the idea that a Marine officer could perform acts of heroism so outlandish that it requires debunking? If so, there's little doubt why so many Americans might doubt such tales. Every day we're force fed a distorted, dishonest narrative that magnifies every misdeed and sweeps acts of heroism under the rug. This, we are given to understand, is "journalistic objectivity" in action:
The media has an unfortunate history of wrongly pushing the narrative that military service is somehow a horror-filled dehumanizing experience.

MSNBC's Shuster Links Fred Phelps To Republicans, Conservatives -- [Riehl World View]
Insufferable nitwit number 2 from MSNBC, David Shuster, demonstrates his party hack bona fides by implying that hate protesters Fred Phelps and his group are somehow part of the actual conservative movement and the Republican Party, too. What an injudicious hack.

POLITICS

Could Fort Hood visit redefine Obama's relationship with the military? -- [CS Monitor]
Recent Democratic presidents have had an uneasy relationship with the armed forces. Obama's visit to Fort Hood's memorial service could set the tone for a new rapport with those in uniform.

Obama Doesn't "Get" the Military He Commands -- [Villainous Company]
"What Vice President Cheney calls 'dithering,' President Obama calls his solemn responsibility to the men and women in uniform and to the American public," said Gibbs. "I think we've all seen what happens when somebody doesn't take that responsibility seriously."
~White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Life is full of mysteries, but chief among them in this Marine wife's mind at the moment is, "Just how stupid does this White House think we are?" If the events of the past few months have shown us anything, it's that Barack Obama has little enthusiasm for - or interest in - one of the most important duties of an American President: his role as Commander in Chief of the nation's armed forces.
Like so many of his campaign promises, Barack Obama's commitment to the military has undergone constant revision since he took office in January.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN

Gen. Petraeus visits Logar province, hears voice of the people -- [CJTF-82 News]
Gen. David Petraeus, commander of United States' Central Command, met with U.S. and Afghan Soldiers, as well as Baraki Barak Sub-Governor Mohammed Lodin and local businessmen at Combat Outpost Baraki Barak, Oct. 30.
Petraeus removed his body armor and made his way out the gate into the bustling marketplace (without his protective equipment). He shook hands, waved to children and invited shoppers down the block to a local bakery for bread and chai. Once seated, with Lodin standing nearby, Petraeus spoke to several locals about their government.
...Before leaving, he made a point of letting the people know he realized many issues were emotionally charged.
"As we used to say in Iraq, 'it's okay to talk ... it's even okay to shout, it's just not ok to shoot," Petraeus said.

5 British soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan -- [CNN]
Five British soldiers have been shot dead in Afghanistan by a "rogue" Afghan policeman they had been training. The soldiers had been living and working for the past two weeks with the man who killed them.

Great Britain Loses one of its Finest -- [Michael Yon]
...Courage is as common as boots among these soldiers, but Olaf stood out even in that company. You could tell that Olaf knew his business from mean experience, and that he was ready for battle. His mind was very quick.

Soldier Aaron Deans shot by Taliban but refuses to fly home -- [Helmand Blog]
A SOLDIER who was shot in the back during a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan refused to fly home, because he wanted to end his tour of duty with his friends this coming weekend.
At his base in Helmand province, Trooper Aaron Deans, 19, said being shot was like "getting hit with a sledge hammer".
But he still managed to drive his colleagues to safety before blacking out.

Medics face 'awe-inspiring' task -- [BBC]
Col Peter Gilbert, from Rochester, is in charge of the main field hospital at Camp Bastion in southern Helmand.
He said some injuries were worse than the NHS would ever see, including regular cases of lost limbs.
"We are seeing injuries here on an almost daily basis that nobody in the health service will ever see," he said.

US backs Karzai's Afghan poll win -- [Al Jazeera]
The US president has congratulated Hamid Karzai on his re-election as Afghanistan's president, but Barack Obama also told him that he must be "much more serious" about tackling corruption.

US Gives Karzai Six-month Ultimatum to Stem Afghanistan Corruption -- [The Times]
President Karzai has six months to sideline his brother and reduce corruption or risk losing American support, Afghan officials have told The Times. Senior palace insiders said that President Obama delivered the ultimatum when he congratulated Mr Karzai on his re-election on Monday. Top of his demands was action against corruption, the appointment of "reform-minded ministers" and several high-profile scalps to prove Mr Karzai's commitment to cleaning up his Government.

Exclusive: U.S. drafts Afghan 'Compact' it hopes will bolster new Karzai government -- [McClatchy News]
The Obama administration has been quietly working with U.S. allies and Afghan officials on a package of reforms and anti-corruption measures that it hopes will boost popular support for President Hamid Karzai and erase the doubts about his legitimacy raised by his fraud-marred re-election.

Abdullah: Karzai victory 'illegal' -- [Al Jazeera]
Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) declared Karzai the winner on Monday following Abdullah Abdullah's withdrawal from the November 7 runoff after his conditions for holding "free and fair polling" were not met.
"This decision does not have any legal basis and a government which takes power based on such a commission's decision cannot have legitimacy," Abdullah said on Wednesday in his first public appearance since the announcement.
"Such a government which lacks legitimacy cannot fight corruption.
"A government which comes to power without the people's support cannot fight phenomena of terrorism threats, unemployment, poverty and hundreds of other problems."

Abdullah rules out joining new Afghan government -- [Reuters]
Technocrats and some existing ministers will be appointed to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's new government, a spokesman said on Wednesday, but his main rival branded his re-election illegal and ruled out taking any part.

Lone Airman at Combat Outpost Keating recounts enemy attack -- [Bagram Airfield - in Afghanistan]
...From his perspective on the ground, Sergeant McMurtrey believes that the close air support was what turned the tide of battle.
"Once air support showed up, they started bombing everything... the blasts through the door from the bombs being dropped almost knocked me over," said Sergeant McMurtrey.
After more than 10 hours of bombing and strafing from an Air Force B-1B Lancer and F-15E Strike Eagles, nearly 100 militants were killed by the combined response that included Afghan soldiers as well as U.S. air and ground units. Eight Americans and three Afghans were killed, while nine Americans and 11 Afghans were wounded, according to CJTF-82 officials.
"There is no doubt that without the incredible air support we received, it would have been a much worse day," said Army Lt. Col. Robert Brown, 3-61 Cavalry commander from the 4th ID. "Your ability to keep a steady flow of aircraft and ordnance on the enemy turned what could have been a terrible defeat into a hard fought victory."

IRAQ

US military suffers first casualty of month in Iraq -- [San Jose Mercury News]
Twenty-year-old Pfc. Lukas Hopper was just two weeks away from the end of his deployment in Iraq when his Humvee rolled over Friday in a noncombat crash. ...

Brigade Prepares for 'Advise, Assist' Mission -- [Defense Link]
As the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Brigade prepares for its fourth deployment to Iraq, its soldiers are getting lessons in the art of leading from behind as they help to set the stage for the eventual drawdown of US forces in Iraq. The "Raider Brigade" was part of the initial US invasion into Iraq, and returned for two more deployments, in 2005 and 2007. Now, Army Col. Roger Cloutier, the brigade commander, calls it fitting that his soldiers will serve as one of four new "advise-and-assist" brigades tailored specifically to support Iraqi security forces.

Marines, Sailors Shut Down Major Base in Iraq One Area at a Time -- [DVIDS]
Marine Corps participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom is drawing to a close as Marines, Sailors and equipment make their way back home or to other parts of the globe. As part of the departure, one of the Marine Corps' largest bases in the country is on its way to being in the hands of the Iraqi government once again.

Iraqi logjam over vote law has U.S. anxious -- [Washington Post]
An impasse over a law crucial to organizing next year's Iraqi elections is illustrating more starkly than ever the United States' dwindling ability to shape Iraqi politics and settle disputes.
U.S. and U.N. officials have grown increasingly worried in recent days as Iraqi lawmakers have continued to put off a vote amid bickering over how to hold elections in the disputed city of Kirkuk. Because the stalemate threatens to delay the elections, and ...

Whatever Happened To Iraqi Oil? -- [National Journal]
...The country boasts the world's fourth largest oil reserves, with 115 billion untapped barrels, but is just the 13th largest producer, according to the Energy Information Administration.
What's The Holdup?
A lack of foreign investment has been the primary problem. Baghdad has been slow to award contracts, and potential investors have been scared off by corruption, a lack of established law governing the industry and poor infrastructure.
And what's really retarded the industry's growth, experts argue, is the hard bargain Baghdad is driving with foreign oil companies.

Iraq to Award Oil Field To ExxonMobil, Shell -- [Wall Street Journal]
Iraq is expected to award its giant West Qurna-1 oil field in southern Iraq to a consortium comprising Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch

Iraq Swears by Bomb Detector US Sees as Useless -- [New York Times]
Despite major bombings that have rattled the nation, and fears of rising violence as American troops withdraw, Iraq's security
..."I don't care about Sandia or the Department of Justice or any of them," General Jabiri said. "I know more about this issue than the Americans do. In fact, I know more about bombs than anyone in the world."

Tourism returns to Iraq as country takes delegation to World Travel Market -- [Daily Mail]
It may not make it into a list of the world's most hotly-tipped travel destinations, but Iraq has set its sights on marketing itself as an

A Year of Combat MEDEVAC -- [Far from Perfect - in Iraq]
So I finished up my last scheduled duty cycle this morning. No more flying MEDEVAC in Iraq for this tour. We are almost done for this round. The new replacement unit is on the ground, they are almost ready to stand up and take over the mission, and I am off to another country in a few days to watch over all our stuff until its headed home.

Female Pilots Train Iraqi Males -- [You Served]
In a sign of times - and the progress American forces have brought to the nation of Iraq - female troops are invading the male dominated world of the Iraqi military. Historically, women have not been permitted in the military and their place in society has been reduced to education and other menial positions.
However, women are training the Iraqi military just as much as the men are. And it's working!

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Army Corps moves to protect New Orleans from flooding -- [Washington Post]
Mindful that the West Bank of New Orleans has regained its pre-Hurricane Katrina population and is primed for growth, the Army Corps of Engineers is launching a $1 billion effort to protect the area from the next storm.
New Orleans's population plummeted by 300,000 after Katrina, but residents quickly returned to the west bank of the Mississippi River, many under the mistaken impression that the area was safer. The fact that it didn't flood after the hurricane was mainly chance, however.

Japan 'has no time' to meet US -- [BBC]
Plans for a Washington meeting this week between Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been dropped.
Japan's government said the talks had been cancelled because of an inability to co-ordinate schedules.

Brave Iranians Hold MASSIVE PROTEST Against Regime - Chant "Obama, Obama Are You With Regime Or With Us?" (Video) -- [Gateway Pundit]

HOPE, CHANGE, AND PEACE IN OUR TIME -- [One Free Korea]
Kim Jong Il announces that he's reprocessed another 8,000 fuel rods, enough to make at least one more bomb. Thank goodness Chris Hill came along in time to end this d*ck-measuring contest with the give-and-take of compromise. Thank goodness our president isn't afraid to talk to his enemies. Now please send Philip Goldberg to freeze the bank accounts of Orascom, Koryo Tours, and the Korean Friendship Association.

Russia 'Simulates' Nuclear Attack on Poland -- [Weekly Standard]
The timing here is beautiful. The exercises reportedly transpired during the 70th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Poland... also the same day that President Obama killed plans for Polish based missile defense.
The [Russian] armed forces are said to have carried out "war games" in which nuclear missiles were fired and troops practised an amphibious landing on the country's coast. Documents obtained by Wprost, one of Poland's leading news magazines, said the exercise was carried out in conjunction with soldiers from Belarus.
Poland is scared, and for good reason. After decades of repressive Soviet occupation, the Poles invested everything in tightened defensive ties with NATO and the United States. Now the Russian Bear is once again pounding down their door, and -- after Poland loyally committed whole battalions to both Afghanistan and Iraq -- America is nowhere to be seen.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Muslim spying will boost terrorism -- [Guardian]
Kim Howells's weasel words about increasing surveillance on 'certain communities' are unwelcome and counterproductive
Kim Howells's call for British service personnel to be withdrawn from Afghanistan will be welcomed on the streets of Britain, most notably because people have realised that Tony Blair's support for George Bush's "war on terror" has cost so many lives, including those of British soldiers, without any real results - other than the fraudulent election victory of President Karzai and the fragmentation of al-Qaida's Afghan core into other countries.

Wants Congress to change Patriot Act -- [Bellingham Herald]
Members of the House have introduced the USA Patriot Amendments Act, reforming the Patriot Act. Unlike the Senate bill, the House bill will institute much ...

US Congressmen want to designate Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism -- [The Examiner]
Two South Florida congressmen introduced a resolution yesterday to officially designate Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Soldiers' Angels Volunteers Vow to Shave Heads for $100,000 -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
Members of Soldiers' Angels' volunteer leadership have raised the stakes on this year's online Valour-IT Veterans Day fundraising competition, which helps provide America's wounded soldiers with voice-controlled laptops and other technology that supports their physical and psychological recovery.

Friends, colleagues memorialize fallen soldier -- [FOB Tacoma]
One on of the last missions before he died, Spc. Kyle A. Coumas was tasked with carrying the extra ammunition for his squad. The extra 120 pounds of gear wore on the California native's body as he marched through southern Afghanistan.
He fell again and again. He waded through waist-deep water. He carried the equipment for miles. At one point, he fell 20 feet and plunged into the Arghandab River. His comrades had to pull him out.
"His face was beat up and bloodied," said Staff Sgt. Chad Brinkley, his former squad leader. "His clothes were covered with mud. Yet once he made it to the top, all he said was, 'Put my assault pack on my back please, and hand me my rifle.'
"Not once did he quit or complain."

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has now embraced Twitter.
Individual administration pages:
http://twitter.com/VeteransHealth
http://twitter.com/VAVetBenefits
http://twitter.com/VANatCemeteries

Wounded Warriors and Caregivers need your HELP Today! -- [Wounded Warrior Project]
YOUR ACTION IS NECESSARY FOR SENATE TO PASS A STRONG BILL TO HELP OUR MOST SEVERELY WOUNDED WARRIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES
The Family Caregiver Legislation that Wounded Warrior Project has been strongly advocating for has been merged into a larger Veterans Health Care Bill. This larger bill is now referred to as Senate Bill 1963 (S.1963), the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009.
Please continue to call and email your Senators asking that they support S1963. Our most severely wounded warriors and their caregivers need your help today!

Recommended holiday mailing dates released for Afghanistan -- [Bagram Airfield - in Afghanistan]
The U.S. Postal Service announced its recommended mailing dates for delivery by Christmas to U.S. military servicemembers serving overseas at APO/FPO addresses in Afghanistan.
Holiday mail send via First-Class Mail and Priority Mail for servicemembers stationed in Afghanistan should be sent by Dec. 4, 2009 for arrival by Christmas, according to Postal Service officials. The deadline for Parcel Airlift Mail is Dec. 1, 2009, Space Available Mail is Nov. 21, 2009 and Parcel Post is Nov. 13, 2009. Express Mail cannot be used to mail packages to Afghanistan, however Priority Mail is available.

VA secretary promises help for homeless veterans -- [AP]
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Tuesday unveiled a plan to end veterans' homelessness in five years, saying that without action the improvements of recent years could be lost because of the bad economy.
Shinseki said the VA will spend $3.2 billion next year to reduce homelessness among veterans and is working to strengthen partnerships with other government agencies and service organizations. He said he recognizes that a goal of zero homeless veterans is ambitious but that he wants a high target so that everyone puts in their best efforts.

Veterans in Alaska nursing homes caught in dispute over meds -- [The Anchorage Daily News]
Military veterans living in the state-run Alaska Pioneer Homes are losing out on free or low-cost prescription benefits they are entitled to for serving their country because two medical bureaucracies can't seem to figure out how to get VA drugs to them.
The problem -- mostly about the packaging the medicines come in -- affects those veterans who need help from staff to take their meds.
Instead of pill bottles, the Pioneer Homes want the medicine to come in blister packs

Program teaches amputee vets the game of golf -- [AP]
David Flowers knew his right leg was gone as soon as he stepped on the mine.
"I saw this leg come off," he said. "It came up and flew over me and splattered me with blood everywhere."
"And this one," he added, pointing to his damaged left leg, "one bone was sticking out from the leg that way and one the other way, and everything was shredded."
Flowers recalled the violent day while holding a golf club at the driving range on a gorgeous, peaceful autumn morning at Woodmont Country Club, not from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He has been at Walter Reed for six months, ever since triggering a booby trap while trying to clear a weapons cache in what he described as "a little crappy house" near Bagram, Afghanistan.
Flowers and about a half-dozen other amputee veterans from Walter Reed took swings at the driving range for about an hour, then played a couple of holes in the afternoon as part of a program called "First Swing."

Stop Loss Special Pay, Round Two -- [Karaka Pend]
here's some relevant information about Stop Loss Pay:
If you served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009 and were stop-lossed, you should be eligible for special or retroactive pay.
You must file a claim yourself; this isn't an automatic process. The claim must be filed with the appropriate documentation indicating your stop loss activation.
Your claim must be filed by October 21, 2010. The stop loss program is very short, so do it ASAP.
Retired/separated servicemembers and family of deceased servicemembers can apply for the program with the appropriate documentation.
Servicemembers who are already receiving Stop Loss special pay from fiscal year 2009 are not eligible for this program.
Reserve members keep active under Stop Loss were made inactive in August/September of 2009. The goal is to do the same for the standing members by January 2010.
There is ...

MILITARY

Army reduces 'Stop Loss' numbers as Pentagon begins payments -- [army.mil]
As the Defense Department begins to compensate military members forced to serve beyond the expiration of their contracts, the number of those still serving under "Stop Loss" has been greatly reduced, a Pentagon official said.
The Army, the only service still using the program, still has 9,600 Soldiers serving involuntarily beyond their resignation or retirement date, Sam Retherford, the Defense Department's director of officer and enlisted personnel management, said during an Oct. 29, "DoDLive" bloggers roundtable.
That compares to 16,000 servicemembers on Stop Loss in 2005, he said.

The Navy and Ready to Launch Satellites -- [Information Dissemination]
The Commander of the United States Strategic Command, General Kevin Chilton, USAF, gave a speech this week in which he presented the view that he would give up state-of-the-art space systems in order to swell the number of satellites the military could launch as the need arises. I rise in support of the General's view, and I would suggest that the Navy has a role to play here.

WELCOME HOME

Students bond with Marine -- [Explorer News]
He got a surprise welcome-home party at Copper Creek Elementary School. Last year, Valora and the rest of Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 were "adopted" by

Amarillo VA to hold Welcome Home Rally -- [KFDA]
Amarillo, TX -- Veterans Affairs in Amarillo will hold a Welcome Home Rally from 10am - 2pm on Saturday, November 7th.

THE MEDIA/ SOCIAL MEDIA

Free Speech on the Cheap -- [Outside the Wire - in Iraq]
I'm at a little outpost in northern Iraq, fresh back from a patrol where we met with a local Sheik. The previous day I had rode with US Soldiers to a logistics base on a resupply run and while there picked up a few back issues of Stars and Stripes where I read the story.
In the story, a previous graph has a quote from University of Delaware Journalism Professor Ralph Begleiter one of the above mentioned free speech advocates. Begeleiter said, "Taking pictures of the returning casualties to Dover is a measure of the human cost of war. Do you want the government ultimately to have control over what we see or not see? Or do you want independent observers, an independent press or media, relaying those images?"
Mr. Begleiter if you really want to understand the human cost of war, don't stand on a fucking tarmac, get embedded and see the human cost of war up close and personal where the price is actually paid.
But many of the free speech advocates have no desire to put themselves at risk to tell the stories of the women and men who have willingly put themselves in harms way.
They want to do it on the cheap, ...

Secret copyright treaty leaks. It's bad. Very bad. -- [Boing Boing]
The internet chapter of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a secret copyright treaty whose text Obama's administration refused to disclose due to "national security" concerns, has leaked. It's bad. It says:
...That ISPs have to cut off the Internet access of accused copyright infringers or face liability. This means that your entire family could be denied to the internet -- and hence to civic participation, health information, education, communications, and their means of earning a living -- if one member is accused of copyright infringement, without access to a trial or counsel.
* That the whole world must adopt US-style "notice-and-takedown" rules that require ISPs to remove any material that is accused -- again, without evidence or trial -- of infringing copyright. This has proved a disaster in the US and other countries, where it provides an easy means of censoring material, just by accusing it of infringing copyright.

Army Technology Live Launches -- [Army Live]
Army Technology Live is officially live today. We welcome you to the blog on behalf of the Commander of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Maj. Gen. Paul S. Izzo, and the RDECOM team of more than 17,000 people around the world.
Our goal for the blog is to enable a conversation that helps us achieve the RDECOM vision: Keeping the Army on the cutting edge of technology. That conversation will include news about the technology that makes our Warfighters safer and more effective, the team that creates and maintains that technology, the places and organizations where they work and the educational and other outreach the Army engages in to help create the its own high-technology workforce of the future.
That means blog is not going to be limited to RDECOM. The Army's technology efforts are far-reaching and yet interdependent, so we will tell as much of the story as we can.

'V' aims at Obamamania -- [Chicago Tribune]
Imagine this. At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.
The news media swoons in admiration -- one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: "Why don't you show some respect?!" The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader's origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: "Embracing change is never easy."
So, does that sound like anyone you know? Oh, wait -- did I mention the leader is secretly a totalitarian space lizard who's come here to eat us?

POLITICS

Republicans win key US elections -- [BBC]
Republicans have scored victories in two key US elections for governor, one year after Barack Obama was voted in as president.
In Virginia, Republican candidate Bob McDonnell won by a comfortable margin, while another, Chris Christie, ousted the Democrat governor in New Jersey.
...Correspondents say the gubernatorial defeats are a setback for Mr Obama, who had campaigned in both states for his party's candidates, as he tries to reform healthcare, pass a climate change bill and rally support for his handling of the war in Afghanistan.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN

Heroes come home -- [Washington Times - Col Oliver North]
Those who have 'borne the battle'
In what has turned out to be the bloodiest month of the war in Afghanistan, a growing chorus of critics claim the fight is no longer worth the cost. Though most of those saying so aren't paying the price, the toll was evident at Dover Air Force Base early Thursday morning as 21 flag-draped, gunmetal transfer cases were conveyed solemnly from the ramp of a USAF C-17.
...According to those who were there, MH-47 helicopters of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) - the legendary "Nightstalkers" - lifted the raid force from the same base in western Afghanistan where we were just weeks ago, inserted them at the objective in Badghis province and departed. After what one participant described as a "brisk gunfight," the raid force moved to its extract landing zone. On takeoff, one of the MH-47s apparently struck an obstacle, and the large helicopter with 39 aboard crashed in the mountainous terrain - killing 10 - and severely injuring nearly all who survived.
One of the raid participants gave me a matter-of-fact description of what happened next:

Afghan election commission declares Karzai winner -- [Washington Post]
Afghan election officials canceled a presidential runoff and proclaimed the reelection of President Hamid Karzai on Monday, a day after Karzai's top challenger declared he would not take part in a second round of voting scheduled

The State of Play -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
The best way to view the current state of play in Afghanistan is to start at the top of food chain and work down to what is important. The presidential election remains undecided and now Abdullah Abdullah has pulled out of the run-off election. Our Secretary of State says that means nothing. I agree but for different reasons; in the end it does not matter who is leading the country - the Afghan government will not be a proper COIN partner and will continue to be part of the problem regardless of how these elections turn out. Conducting a runoff will only give the bad guys more opportunity for mischief while accomplishing nothing.
...The military is bitching about the fact that the Afghan government is not a reliable partner and a big part of the insecurity problem. This is true but the military can't change that. They can make the Afghan military part of the solution but not by treating them the way they treat them now. We need to get the troops off the FOB's and out with their counterparts in the villages. We also need to pull out of areas where the local people do not want our help - which is not that many areas in the country as a whole.

Abdullah Abduallah pulls out - should we? -- [Greyhawk]
Abdullah Abdullah, Hamid Karzai's main rival for office of President of Afghanistan, has withdrawn from the scheduled November 7 runoff election there, saying his demands for ensuring a fraud-free election had not been met. However, he stopped short of calling for his supporters to boycott the vote.

US Troop Levels Not Tied to Afghan Vote, White House Aides Say -- [Wall Street Journal]
The withdrawal by Afghan President Hamid Karzai's chief rival from a runoff election shouldn't complicate President Barack Obama's decision on whether to send more troops to that country, senior White House aides said. Abdullah Abdullah on Sunday said he would not participate in Afghanistan's Nov. 7 runoff, after failing to reach an agreement with Mr. Karzai on how to redress problems with fraud that had marred the presidential election in August. His announcement comes as Mr. Obama has been weighing a request from Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top US commander in Afghanistan, for at least 40,000 more troops to help fight the extremist Taliban and prevent al Qaeda from reestablishing a base in the country.

Good intelligence vs. Bad men, not easy to distinguish (part 1) -- [World of Troubles - in Afghanistan]
"What we do isn't classified, but how we do it is," Dan said from his small plywood office covered with maps marked Secret. He wore a beard and civilian clothes. His cell phone was constantly ringing from Afghans who wanted to meet with him.
I'd seen him work the day before. We'd trudged through rows of farmland along the river to a mud and brick compound (qulat), where an Afghan patriarch with a salt and pepper beard welcomed the American Provincial Reconstruction team.

Soldier tells of enemy attack on the front line -- [Frontline bloggers - Afghanistan]
A soldier who is serving on the front line in Afghanistan has spoken of the moment he came under enemy fire. Corporal Jamie Hilton, of the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was deployed to Helmand province in August. As a section commander, he is in charge of eight men.
Since the summer, he and his soldiers have been involved in operations to expand security. They have also built two new checkpoints and are building a bridge across a canal to allow greater freedom of movement for locals, as well as the military.
Cpl Hilton, aged 23, said: "We were under some heavy enemy fire. "We were suppressing the enemy. Then a rocket-propelled grenade came in and made an explosion and blew me off the roof.

Notes from a tribal gathering -- [Captain Cat's Diary - in Afghanistan]
So back to those querulous tribesmen up in the Kurram Agency. After a couple of weeks, the Deputy Governor managed to arrange a meeting between the Shi'a Turi tribe and the Sunni Bangash tribe, to try to find a peaceful settlement to their long-standing dispute.
A word on this particular sectarian conflict: tensions between the Shi'as and Sunnis flared up back in the 80s when the Zia government in Pakistan introduced fighters to the Kurram Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), in order to quell Shi'a influence on the main weapons supply route between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The two sides now accuse each other of not allowing the other to travel freely through the areas they inhabit and control. Thus ...

Haqqani Network, al Qaeda, behind attack on UN guesthouse in Kabul -- [Long War Journal]
Al Qaeda and the Haqqani Network coordinated last week's deadly assault on a UN guest house in the Afghan capital of Kabul.
The attack, which killed five foreign UN workers and three Afghans, was launched by three terrorists who were dressed as policemen and were armed with grenades, assault rifles, and suicide belts.

Wake-Up Call II -- [Knights of Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
...I can state as a fact that Afghan guards (ANP) were outside during the attack, guarding the gate as they are supposed to. I saw those guards everyday when I left my residence and they were as vigilant and as capable as anyone can expect.
I can also state that both of them are now dead, victims of a well-planned and effectively executed attack. The Taliban, if that's who the attackers were, wore ANP uniforms themselves, undoubtedly stolen or purchased from some corrupt district commander. Some of my guys, who witnessed the attack, tell me that the Taliban conducted a thorough recon of the area first, disguised as police, and then ...

Afghanistan Trip Report -- [SWJ - Bing West]
Having recently returned from Afghanistan - thanks to the hospitality of Generals Petraeus and McChrystal - I'd like to share a few thoughts. By way of context, let me state my frame of reference. As a former assistant secretary of defense for international security, I am familiar with Washington dynamics; but I believe COIN is decided at the small unit level, not in national capitals. I was 18 months in Vietnam, have written five books on COIN and made 20 trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. This was my third Afghanistan visit in quick succession

War Is Tiring -- [Afghan Quest - in Afghanistan]
War Is Tiring There are lots of people who are tired of war. The young men and women on their third and fourth deployments are tired of war. Some say that the Afghans are tired of war, while others point out that if they were truly tired of war, they would perhaps cease fighting. Matthew Hoh is tired of war.

Watchmen: Moral Outrage as Marketing -- [Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
Like luncheon meat, sometimes it's best if we don't know how news is made, and that's especially true of the Sunday political talk shows. A case in point was Jon Krakauer's plug for his book Where Men Win Glory at the end of NBC's Meet the Press yesterday. The appearance was justified by the fact that Krakauer's subject, Corporal Pat Tillman, could be tied by way of the expansive concept of news analysis to General McChrystal's leadership of operations in Afghanistan. What follows are a few facts and one speculation relevant to Krakauer's conclusions.

Balance -- [Embedded in Afghanistan... - in Afghanistan]
It's a common thing to see articles in the news media about the negative aspects of war on the micro level. The dead, the wounded, the mentally and emotionally damaged all appear to get a fair amount of coverage and exposure, so I'm going to focus on a few of the good things some of us get out of serving in combat - because many of us are getting a lot out of it.

Anatomy of a Mission -- [Sgt Danger - in Afghanistan]
Posted by sgtdanger on Oct 29, 2009 in Deployment, Leadership, Soldiering
You know what I listen to, what I wear to work, how an APFT goes, what I'm afraid of, why I'm getting out, what happens when a tractor-trailer rolls in a combat zone, and what my insecurities are. But none of that is what the Army sent my buddies and I to Afghanistan for.

43 nations in ISAF -- [Helmand Blog]
ISAF - International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is a very broad international commitment made up of a coalition of 43 nations, with every member operating under a UN mandate.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force is not there to fight the Afghans, it is there to fight alongside them against insurgents who are rejected by most people in the country. Afghan forces have paid a heavy price in casualties and have borne a substantial part of the fighting.

Jack of All Trades -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
Some days I am limited to office work. Other days I spend all day travelling. Then there are days like today when I do many different tasks in one day.
Mentor- Today we went downtown to meet with our ANP Counterparts in their clinic. We had the usual niceties and discussion of how well our families are doing. Then we went through our list of discussion topics.

Guest Blogger: David F after Keating attack -- [Bouhammer]
This post was written right after FOB Keating was attacked. Hi. Things have settled down a bit now. We were not as busy as I thought we would be - which is actually a bad thing. I don't think there is any news agency here. Information goes pretty much by two way radio and IRC on the SIPR-net. So it is just slow information travel I think. Over a hundred T'ban / tribals stormed FOB Keating and a little outpost nearby.

IRAQ

Frustrated in Iraq, U.S. troops eye Afghan action -- [Washington Post]
Frustrated by their decreasing military role in Iraq as they hand over to Iraqi security forces, many U.S. soldiers are itching to join the war in Afghanistan.
When they get there, though, some are shocked by the escalating violence and relatively spartan conditions.
Bloodshed has fallen sharply in Iraq in the last two years, and the U.S. military is drawing down troops and equipment ahead of a full withdrawal by 2012.

Biden and Kurd chief press need for election law -- [AFP]
ARBIL, Iraq -- US Vice President Joe Biden and president Massud Barzani of Iraqi Kurdistan have pressed the need for a key election law to be passed in

Passing Around The Pain -- [Strategy Page]
While the dual vehicle bombing on the 25th was spectacular, it obscures the fact that overall violence is still down to a tenth of what it was two years ago (at its peak). Most of the terrorist attacks fail, in that they are stopped short of their objective by security forces. This results in much less damage and far fewer casualties (often only the suicide bomber is killed.) Thus the great public anger at the failure to halt the October 25th attack. Unacceptable corruption or incompetence are seen in play here, and people want scapegoats.

Violence is a Way of Life in Iraq -- [The Times]
Violence in Iraq has been reduced, as Western generals and politicians are keen to point out, but it has not gone away. If anything, it has become more deeply ingrained. The kidnapping and murder of Muntadher al-Mussewi shows how political violence has spawned criminal gangs capable of the vilest acts. Having learnt their trade from the Mahdi Army, a brutal militia, the kidnappers now carry on without even the veneer of political justification. Were terrorists to disappear from Iraq overnight, the country would still be stuck, possibly for decades, with the culture of violence they fostered (building on the legacy of Saddam Hussein, of course). So should the West use its by now limited influence to prevent another turn in the cycle of violence? Often that can work: when Arabs and Kurds rattle their sabres in the oil-rich region of Kirkuk, US advisers are right to scurry up north to calm them down.

At Least 8 Killed in Iraq Bombings -- [Voice of America]
Iraqi police say four bombs Sunday have killed at least eight people and wounded more than 50 others. Police say a bomb attached to a bicycle exploded in a popular market in the town of Mussayab, about 60 kilometers south of Baghdad. The blast killed at least five people and wounded 37 others. Meanwhile, police in Ramadi, 100 kilometers west of the capital, say two bombs exploded minutes apart, killing two and wounding four others. A fourth bomb attached to a bus detonated as it approached a police checkpoint in the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Karbala. The blast killed at least one person and wounded at least a dozen others. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Two powerful car bombings one week ago in Baghdad targeted Iraq's Ministry of Justice and a provincial government building, killing 155 people and wounding more than 500 others. An al-Qaida-linked group claimed responsibility for these attacks.

UN Disburses $610 Million of Iraqi Oil revenues to Kuwait -- [MEMRI Blog]
The compensation committee of the United Nations has disbursed to Kuwait, on October 29, the sum of $610 million as compensation for the damage incurred by Kuwait after it was invaded by Iraq in 1990.

Baghdad holds first trade fair in over six years -- [Reuters]
Iraq's economy has been shattered by years of war, sanctions in the 1990s, inefficient state-run operations under Saddam Hussein, and bombings, conflict and ...

Photos: Children Of Iraq Set 2 -- [Sour Swinger]
On to the pictures shall we? Today I have for you another set of pictures from the children in Iraq. Only one more left after this one. I picked out 5 pics to display below. You can view the complete set here. There's exactly 60 pictures.

Who Fights This War--Trading a Guitar for a Gun -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
Nick was one of the guys who went through the Live Fire Shoot House when I did.
Seven years ago, then 18-year-old Nicholas Raia of Altoona, Pa., brought his trumpet to an audition for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard band. He aced the audition and until last summer was member of several performance groups within the band. Over those seven years he performed more and more with the band and ensembles playing the guitar for recruiting events and celebrations. For more formal military ceremonies he now plays the baritone--a small tuba.
After seven years in the band, Raia, now a sergeant, decided to take a year away from performing and volunteer for a combat tour. Since mobilization in January, Raia has served as a door gunner on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

USS New York comes 'home' to harbor -- [Newsday]
ABOARD THE USS NEW YORK - The USS New York, built with steel salvaged from the fallen Twin Towers, entered New York Harbor Monday and paused for a moment in the waters off Ground Zero to honor those ....

The Threat From Somalia -- [Washington Post]
One of the rhetorical questions frequently tossed out in the debate over Afghanistan concerns the brewing trouble in Somalia and Yemen, both of which are known to host al-Qaeda cadres and training camps. If it's necessary to pacify Afghanistan to protect US security, goes the taunt, must we also intervene in Somalia and Yemen? The presumed answer is: "Of course not - and therefore why bother with Afghanistan?" The more sensible response is: If something is not done soon about these lawless places, one or the other may well become the next Afghanistan - a place where US military intervention was compelled by a devastating attack on the homeland. Most urgent is Somalia

Somali group with al Qaeda ties threatens Israel -- [CNN]
militant Islamist group associated with al Qaeda has for the first time threatened to attack Israel, far from its normal base of operations in Somalia.
Al-Shabab, which is fighting to control the east African country, accused Israel of "starting to destroy" the Al Aqsa mosque, where standoffs have taken place recently between Israeli police and Palestinians.

Palestinians Accuse US of Damaging Peace Process -- [Voice of America]
Palestinian leaders are voicing frustration after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Israel for making what she said are unprecedented concessions in efforts to restart peace negotiations. Israeli leaders are keeping up their calls for the Palestinians to drop all preconditions. Palestinian leaders on Sunday stuck to their demands that Israel stop all settlement activity before any resumption of peace talks that have been stalled since December. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called late Saturday for all sides to return to talks and praised what she said are Israel's unprecedented concessions, which she said include its offer to restrain settlement growth. She urged both sides to return to talks as soon as possible and backed Israel's assertion that all demands over settlements should be dealt with during negotiations, not sooner. "There has never been a precondition," said Clinton.

North Korea Presses US to Agree to Bilateral Talks -- [New York Times]
North Korea has again pressed the United States for a decision about starting bilateral talks, with a diplomat warning Monday that the North was "ready to go our own way" with its nuclear weapons program. "Now that we have shown the generosity of stating the position that we would be willing to talk to the United States and hold multilateral talks including the six-way talks, it is time for the United States to make a decision," an unidentified spokesman for the North's Foreign Ministry told its official news agency, KCNA.

Intelligence Failures? -- [Washington Times]
On Oct. 21, the incoming commander of the US Pacific Command, Adm. Robert F. Willard, made a little-noticed but astonishing accusation to reporters in Seoul: "I would contend that in the past decade or so, China has exceeded most of our intelligence estimates of their military capability and capacity every year. They've grown at an unprecedented rate in those capabilities." Very politely, the head of PACOM has accused the American intelligence community (IC) and, by extension, its political leadership, of failure to estimate correctly the capabilities and capacity of a nuclear-armed dictatorship with a history of hostility against all of its neighbors and the United States. According to the admiral, this failure has gone on for 10 years. This sort of public bomb-throwing is very rare in Washington, especially on China issues.

Bill Clinton Statue in Kosovo -- [Jawa Report]
(Pristina, Kosovo) Ethnic Albanians flocked in miserable weather to honor former President Bill Clinton on Sunday. Clinton attended the unveiling of an 11-foot statue of himself on a street named after him.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

US moves on domestic jihadis -- [Long War Journal]
A high number of terrorist plots have been disrupted in the US this year. Several of the Islamists who have been detained have been traced back to Pakistan's tribal areas.

Al-Qaeda arms cache found near Riyadh -- [PRESS TV]
The cache has been found amid reports indicating that the Saudi government is not taking the necessary steps in fighting terrorism.

Air Force doc testifies in terrorism case -- [FlightLines]
The Associated Press reports that an Air Force psychologist testified yesterday in the sentencing of Ali al-Marri, who was convicted in Illinois of being an al-Qaida sleeper agent.
Maj. Deborah Sirratt, who was in charge of medical care in the U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, S.C., told the court that al-Marri can be kind and respectful but would likely attack the United States if given a chance. She also said he believes infidels -- i.e., non-Muslims -- should be killed.
"I do feel in Mr. al-Marri's case that it's likely he might engage in hostile acts against the United States," Sirratt testified.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Over 1900 Heroes Waiting for Adoption!!! -- [Soldiers' Angels]
Every Soldiers' Angels volunteer who adopts, joins a team or assists a project helps ensure "No Soldier Go Unloved." Angel volunteers support the troops in two main ways:
Associate Angels participate in the group activities and projects that do not involve personal information about soldiers or families. The tireless work and generosity of these patriots is the foundation of many important Soldiers' Angels projects.

Valour-IT Fundraising Auctions -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
"Guardian Angel": A Marine from 1st BN, 4th Marines stands guard outside an emergency ordinance disposal site. By Michael D. Fay.
Lots of great items now up for auction at the Soldiers' Angels Valour-IT eBay site, all of them generously donated by their owners to raise money for Valour-IT.
The print above, called "Guardian Angel" is signed by USMC combat artist Michael D. Fay. Image size: 9" x 13". Print size: 16 x 20. Bids are starting at $20.
Chief Warrant Officer-2 Fay is one of only two combat artists employed by the United States Marine Corps to produce fine art based on their experience of combat and the life of fellow Marines in the field. His work is displayed in various museums such as the James A. Michener Art Museum, the Marine Corps Combat Art collection, and in the new National Museum of the Marine Corps.
One of Fay's works is also proudly displayed at Landstuhl hospital.

Ramstein CASF to reach 100,000 patient transfers in October -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Another part of the incredible chain of life-saving logistics required to move our Wounded Warriors out of theater and on to higher levels of medical care.

AFGHANISTAN

[Air Force Special] Forces for Special Afghan Rescues -- [Washington Times]
The past week has brought plenty of heartache for the medical combat specialists, considered the "special forces" of the Air Force. A day earlier, they had spent an afternoon airlifting 17 severely wounded members of the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team to the trauma center at Kandahar Air Field. One American and one Afghan soldier were killed in that IED attack. A rash of combat deaths elsewhere in the Afghan theater has made this the deadliest month of the eight-year-old war for American forces.

Faces of those fallen -- [Afghan Journal - in Afghanistan]
Here in the capital city of Afghanistan, I waited just like everyone back in the States for more news of the eight soldiers who died in two separate insurgents attacks Tuesday in southern Afghanistan. With the latest deaths announced by the Defense Department, the Fort Lewis-based 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division has now lost 26 soldiers in Afghanistan since arriving in the summer...

We remember -- [Desert Bound - in Afghanistan]
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WILSON, Afghanistan - Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment mourned the loss of a fallen Soldier during a memorial service Oct. 29 at Forward Operating Base Wilson.
PFC Devin J. Michel, of Stockton, Ill., died Oct. 24 when enemy forces attacked his platoon with an improvised explosive device. PFC Michel joined the Army in 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan on May 24, 2009. He leaves behind his wife, Anika.
"It is absolutely devastating to lose him to an incident like this after we have begun to make a difference in this critical area of Afghanistan," ...

On the War's Front Lines -- [David Ignatius, Washington Post]
Here's what you would see if you traveled this week to Kandahar and Helmand provinces, the two big battlegrounds of the Afghanistan war: a conflict that is balanced tenuously between success and failure. The United States has deployed enough troops to disrupt the Taliban insurgency and draw increasing fire, but not enough to secure the major population centers. That's not a viable position. I visited four US bases in the two provinces this week, traveling with the military. I was able to hear from local commanders and talk with a few Afghans. I'll describe what I learned, positive and negative, so readers can weigh this evidence from the field.

Wake-Up Call -- [Knights of Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
Just last week I was musing on the ramifications of my new quarters and the security measures therein, and I pointed out that Kabul is actually safer than most people think it is. There is always at least a minimum level of risk, but I'm not trudging through the valleys of Paktika or hiking the deserts of Helmand.
Why, oh why do I open my big mouth?

A big mistake yet again -- [Bouhammer]
There is a well-known saying in Afghanistan: "You can rent an Afghan, but you can't buy him." Yeah I have said that on here several times. It is a very common saying, and even though this may be true in Afghanistan, it does not mean we should be doing it. "The bill includes a Taliban reintegration provision under the Commander's Emergency Response Program, which is now receiving $1.3 billion. CERP funding also is

WUSF Radio story about corruption -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
Here is a link to a radio interview earlier this week where we discussed corruption and how some of the ANA soldiers openly discussed how to steal supplies. The story aired on WUSF Radio in Tampa during NPR's "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered."

Helo mission to FOB Shank -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
...Our helicopter eventually arrived and our ETT Team Leader, AF Captain, and I along with our ANA guests boarded the aircraft. Our plan was to make a quick assessment of the FLE and meet with key leaders at the FOB. The helicopter flew through parts of Wardak and then Logar Province before landing at FOB Shank.

A Tale of Two Words -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
I got back to Camp Spann the two nights ago. It was so nice to sleep in my own B Hut and cot. It is good to be back. Today let's examine two words used widely in the discussions of Afghanistan. My Interpreter enlightened me as to their meaning. Hazara - The word in Dari for 1000 is hazaar. When the Mongols brutally invaded Afghanistan in the Middle Ages timeframe, a subset of these warriors chose to settle in the central mountainous part of Afghanistan.

Anatomy of a Mission -- [Sgt Danger - in Afghanistan]
You know what I listen to, what I wear to work, how an APFT goes, what I'm afraid of, why I'm getting out, what happens when a tractor-trailer rolls in a combat zone, and what my insecurities are. But none of that is what the Army sent my buddies and I to Afghanistan for. It's pretty simple really: put machine guns on the road to protect convoys of stuff moving from place to place. And here's how we do it.

Rock-n-Rolling in Afghanistan - Literally -- [Field Notes - in Afghanistan]
As I discovered early Friday morning, earthquakes occur fairly regularly along fault lines underneath the Hindu Kush Region. Just before going to bed, I noticed the wardrobe in my room started to shake back and forth. Not sure what was going on, I started to look behind it when I noticed the table was also rocking and my whole room seemed to be slightly swaying. And almost as soon as it began, everything stopped moving.

US Seeks to Counter Enemy's 'Weapon of Choice' -- [Defense Link]
The Defense Department expects US forces in Afghanistan to continue to be targeted by improvised explosive devices -- which have claimed more lives there than any other weapon - while it seeks ways to counter the threat, officials said. As President Barack Obama and his advisors weigh decisions on the next phase of the Afghan war, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is working to protect against and defeat the growing threat from IEDs, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today, noting that October has been the deadliest month for US forces in the eight-year war. "Secretary Gates is working to ensure that this department continues to do everything possible to provide our men and women in uniform with the very best protection and capabilities to defeat the growing IED threat," ...

Muddled Thinking on Afghanistan -- [Washington Times]
It's been more than two weeks since President Obama announced that a decision on courses of action in Afghanistan would be made "in the coming weeks." Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said a decision would wait until "sometime after the Afghan election is finally resolved." Given the fluid nature of Afghan politics, it's hard to say what "finally resolved" means. We doubt it will be anytime soon. The Taliban are not waiting for Mr. Obama's decision. Their suicide attack on the UN guesthouse in Kabul on Wednesday was reminiscent of the August 2003 bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad that drove the mission from Iraq. The Taliban are seeking to conduct high-profile, potentially game-changing attacks that will influence thinking in Washington.

Afghanistan Increases Polling Stations for Election -- [Voice of America]
Afghan election officials say they plan to increase the number of voting stations for next week's presidential runoff election, despite concerns that could lead to more fraud than in the first vote. Afghanistan's independent election commission says it will slightly increase the number of polling centers to 6,322 and have enough staff to ensure a credible process. Foreign election observers had recommended reducing the more than 6,000 polling centers used in the first round after auditors found more than one million fraudulent votes. Many fake ballots are believed to have come from remote polling stations that never opened or did not have observers monitoring the vote. Meanwhile

Afghan Officials Unveil Plans for Runoff -- [Los Angeles Times]
Afghan election officials said Thursday that they would increase the number of voting centers for next week's presidential runoff election, disregarding UN advice to open fewer sites to prevent the rampant fraud that characterized the first round of balloting. The announcement deepened fears that the Nov. 7 poll would be as tainted as the August election. US and allied officials had hoped that the showdown between President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah would result in a government that can be a credible partner in efforts to stabilize the country.

SKorea planning troop deployment to Afghanistan -- [AP]
South Korea announced plans Friday to send troops to Afghanistan to protect its civilian aid workers, two years after withdrawing its forces following a fatal hostage crisis.

IRAQ

Iraq Arrests Security Personnel for Sunday's Deadly Explosions -- [Voice of America]
Baghdad's top government security official has announced the arrest of close to a dozen officers and around 50 members of Iraq's security forces for alleged involvement or negligence in Sunday's suicide bombings in the Iraqi capital. Iraqi TV reported that Major General Qasim Atta, acting as a military spokesman for the Iraqi capital, announced the arrests of 11 officers and 50 members of the military and police for alleged responsibility or negligence in Sunday's attacks in Baghdad. About 155 people were killed and hundreds of others wounded in the massive explosions that rocked the Iraqi capital, gutting two government ministries and blowing out windows across the entire center of the city.

Iraq Arrests 61 Officials in Fatal Blasts -- [Washington Post]
Iraqi authorities on Thursday announced the arrest of 61 police and army officials responsible for the central Baghdad district where two bombs killed more than 155 people Sunday. The arrests, like others following security breaches, reflect the Iraqi government's strategy of holding soldiers and law enforcement officials criminally responsible for attacks carried out in their areas. Eleven of the men were officers and 50 were lower-ranking, said Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, a spokesman for the Baghdad operational command. Atta did not specify the charges brought against them.

Inshallah -- [Blogs Over Baghdad - in Iraq]
Tomorrow is the 314th PAOC's farewell party from Iraq. It's a chance for us to say 'thank you' to the people and organizations that made our time here more enjoyable and more effective. 1LT Larrew is the chief planner of the event, and we are all hoping that it will break us out of the funk we have been in for a few days. You might being asking yourself, 'How can you be in a funk? Aren't you coming home soon?' Yes, the unit is due to return sometime in the next few weeks, but there are still many unknowns, and those unknowns weigh heavily on people who see a light at the end of a tunnel.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Iran Adds Caveat to Nuclear Cooperation Deal -- [Voice of America]
Iran has given its formal response to a UN plan for processing its nuclear material. Details remained sketchy, but it appears Tehran has put a few conditions on what appeared to be a take-it-or-leave-it deal.

British Couple Held Off Somali Coast -- [New York Times]
Somali pirates said Thursday that they had moved a British couple seized from their sailboat last week to a container ship anchored off Somalia's lawless shores, and that they would "protect" the captives until a ransom was delivered. Meanwhile, the British ITV News said it had made contact with Paul Chandler, one of the kidnapping victims. In a brief interview

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Judge Credits Time Served in Sentencing al-Qaeda Aide -- [Washington Post]
In a decision that could carry implications for the masterminds of the Sept. 11 attacks, a judge on Thursday sentenced an al-Qaeda sleeper agent with ties to the group's senior leaders to eight years and four months in prison. The sentence sliced away nearly half of the 15-year maximum available penalty against Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, who entered the country as a graduate student on Sept. 10, 2001, under instructions from al-Qaeda operations chief Khalid Sheik Mohammed. US District Judge Michael Mihm essentially gave Marri credit for spending more than six years on a US Navy brig in Charleston, S.C. Marri was held in isolation without criminal charges as one of only three enemy combatants on American soil.

In Military Campaign, Pakistan Finds Hint of 9/11 -- [New York Times]
Pakistani forces pushing toward a lair of hard-core Taliban fighters found documents this week linked to a member of the Hamburg cell of Al Qaeda that is believed to have planned the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. In a small village in the dun-colored hills of South Waziristan, soldiers found a German passport belonging to Said Bahaji, a German citizen and associate of Mohammed Atta, the leader of the 9/11 hijackers. The passport was issued in Hamburg in January 2001 and was accompanied by a Pakistani visa dated March 2001. The documents indicated that Mr. Bahaji landed in Karachi from Istanbul on Sept. 4, 2001.

Pakistan Army Picks Up Trail of al-Qaeda Operative Wanted for 9/11 -- [The Times]
Pakistani troops fighting Islamist militants in the mountains of South Waziristan have picked up the trail of a leading al-Qaeda figure wanted in connection with the attacks on America on September 11, 2001. The Times was shown yesterday the German passport of Said Bahaji, a close associate of the September 11 hijacker Mohammed Atta. The army said that it found the passport and other documents in a mud compound in the village of Shawangai.

Clinton Presses Pakistan on al-Qaeda -- [Washington Post]
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed doubt Thursday over Pakistan's failure to locate top al-Qaeda leaders in the eight years since they escaped over the border from Afghanistan, telling a group of Pakistani journalists that she found "it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are and couldn't get them if they really wanted to." "So far as we know," she said, "they're in Pakistan." Clinton's comments, the most direct public statement of a US argument long made in private, came as she tried to balance assurances of strong economic and military support for Pakistan with reminders that the relationship is a "two-way street." "If we are going to have a mature partnership where we work together," she said, "

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Project Valour-IT -- [Soldiers Angels]
In memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss
It was the first time I felt whole since I'd woken up wounded in Landstuhl.
-Major Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, on using a voice-controlled laptop
Welcome to the 2009 Soldiers' Angels Valour-IT fundraiser, running through November 11! This spirited competition raises money for technology that reconnects wounded warriors and supports their recovery.

Obama Honors Americans Killed in Afghanistan -- [Voice of America]
US President Barack Obama says the sacrifices of Americans serving in harm's way are very much on his mind as he ponders America's war options in Afghanistan. Mr. Obama left Washington in the middle of the night to be on hand when the bodies of 18 recent casualties of the war came home. The president has been seeking advice on Afghanistan from generals, diplomats and members of Congress. But late Wednesday he sought a different guidance. He traveled to an Air Force base in the state of Delaware that is home to the largest military mortuary in the country.

Honoring the fallen -- [Greyhawk]
As the Obama administration debated resource requirements, October became the deadliest month for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the beginning of the war.
Even before the "record numbers" the president's approval ratings on Afghanistan were in free fall:
...How to turn the situation around? Some say more troops, some say change strategy, others say withdraw - but someone in the White House got the bright idea that now would be a good time for a photo op.

Hearts and Minds. Who's First? -- [Knottie's Niche - Gold Star Mother]
President Obama... this morning you went to welcome home 18 Fallen men. You watched as their flag draped caskets were walked solemnly from the plane. You saluted and I assume you looked into the eyes of their families. I hope you listened to their words. I hope you asked about who these men were in life and not simply how they died. You see, how they lived is so much more important than how they died. I hope you understand that exhaustion played a role in their death because the request for more support troops is being ignored and "thought about" by you. I hope you understand that we the families of the military now hold you accountable and do not care what the past administration did or didn't do. Now of us can change the past we must deal with this moment.

FireDogLake Buttheads clueless about Bush and our war dead -- [Uncle Jimbo]
UPDATE: A Gold Star mom shares her thoughts on this.
I never cease to be amazed by the sorry haters on the left and their inability to understand the military, respect, dignity and the difference between a gesture and a heartfelt gesture. They are busy hating on George W because he failed to go to Dover and get photo-opped like our current Commander in Chief. Now first of all I will give Obama credit for gong to Dover, but as soon as it became a photo op it was cheapened

My own words cannot express -- [From my position... On the way!]
My words cannot express here how I feel about the administration's use of bodies returning to Dover as a photo op.
...I won't republish these photos, because I am not a journalist. I have a personal code of honor that will not tolerate even one single visit by someone searching for pictures of wounded or the bodies of our dead. ...I recall my visit with President Bush when I was in the hospital. No reporters, no journalists, no cameras. Just me, the Mrs, Mom, the CiC, and the White house photographer. The pictures he took were sent to me later--signed. I asked why no reporter--his reply: "Because this visit isn't about me, or anyone else but you. I want to thank you for your sacrifice, and that's all."

The Commander's Duty Done -- [New York Times]
In his midnight mission to honor the returning war dead, President Obama did more than personally extend the nation's condolences to grieving families gathered at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Without uttering a public word, Mr. Obama erased President George W. Bush's shameful attempts to hide the pain of war from Americans and to shield himself from paying public tribute to the thousands who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Arriving in the Shadows -- [Army Live]
As I turned on my computer and television in the office at work this morning, the news was overwhelmed with stories about President Obama's pre-dawn trip to (personally) one of the saddest, yet most honorable places in America-Dover Air Force Base. It is here that Soldiers killed in the war are transported back to their loved ones for final goodbyes and proper burial. It is here that a mother remembers senior prom and how she took a million pictures before her son/daughter ran out of the house with their date. It is here that a father understands there will be no more pleads to borrow the brand new car to go to the movies with friends. It is here family, friends and loved ones come to the realization that person is gone. However, it is also here that the nation pays homage and remembers what this Soldier did to protect, serve, honor and defend the freedom we love and cherish. While we are resting in the comforts of our home, these Soldiers fly in during the dawn hours of the morning in the shadows of the rising sun

MILITARY

Exercise Seeks Battlefield Information Effectiveness -- [Defense Link]
US warfighters and allies operating in Afghanistan and Iraq depend on various sensor platforms that can provide information about the enemy's whereabouts night or day, a senior US military officer said today. That's why the annual joint Empire Challenge demonstration, which explores how to improve dissemination of vital intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to battlefield commanders, is so important, Air Force Col. George J. Krakie, the director of this year's exercise, told American Forces Press Service. "It's about bringing all these different ISR capabilities together to form a coherent picture for the warfighter of the battle space that's around them,"

WELCOME HOME

'Best of the best' -- the 1133rd is finally home -- [Globe Gazette]
MASON CITY -- Soldiers from Mason City's 1133rd Transportation Co. were praised as the "best of the best" during welcome home ceremonies on Wednesday.

30 local soldiers welcomed home -- [The Daily Iowan]
Army Spc. Weston McKee can finally get back to work on building his new house.
McKee is one of 30 local National Guard soldiers dismissed from duty during a ceremony Wednesday after being deployed in Iraq for 10 months.

Heard Up North: Welcome home, Drum-style -- [North Country Public Radio]‎
Troops are regularly leaving for Iraq or Afghanistan, or coming home. A chain-link fence across Route 26 from Fort Drum's airfield has become a part of that

Local Soldiers Return to Hero's Welcome -- [KIMT]
Wednesday they got the welcome home ceremony. Family, friends and community members gathered at the All Seasons Building at the North Iowa Fairgrounds

Joy, butterflies as troops come home -- [DesMoinesRegister]
Nine-year-old Thomas Fetters held a sign: "WELCOME HOME, DAD!!" He was glad his dad, Sgt. Mike Fetters of Ankeny, would be here for his birthday today. ...

Audubon welcomes Guard unit home from Iraq deployment -- [Daily Times Herald]
Mayor Sam Kauffman said simply, "Welcome home, and thank god for your safe return." Once the soldiers were dismissed, they shouted the Army's battle cry

THE MEDIA

The New York Times rewrites -- [Greyhawk]
...the Obama at Dover story.
Oops! The New York Times original report on the president's midnight trip to Dover said

POLITICS

Pork in the Age of Obama (part two) -- [Greyhawk]
Yesterday: "Maybe next year's headline will be Victory for America over Jack Murtha."
...House ethics investigators have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling, according to a confidential House ethics committee report prepared in July.

Dozens in Congress Under Ethics Inquiry -- [Washington Post]
House ethics investigators have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling, according to a confidential House ethics committee report prepared in July. The report appears to have been inadvertently placed on a publicly accessible computer network, and it was provided to The Washington Post by a source not connected to the congressional investigations.

"Uncle" -- [Greyhawk]
Swamped: WASHINGTON - On Oct. 21, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a solicitation for temporary contractor support to assist in processing the increased volume of education claims received since implementing the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.
"This contract will assist VA in delivering education benefits to our Veterans as quickly as possible," said Under Secretary for Benefits Patrick W. Dunne. "Veterans are depending on VA to provide the benefits they earned through their service to our nation. We will do everything in our power to minimize delays for our Veteran-students."

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

updating.....

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

Bombings Kill 8 US Soldiers in Afghanistan -- [Washington Post]
October became the deadliest month for US troops in the eight-year-old war in Afghanistan when two powerful bombs killed eight soldiers and an interpreter in separate attacks Tuesday. This time of year typically brings a decline in violence as insurgents regroup as cold weather approaches. Instead, the bloodiest days this month have displayed both the range of threats American soldiers face and the persistent danger of the most basic weapons. Soldiers have died in a lone outpost in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan that was nearly overrun by more than 100 insurgents firing rockets and grenades. They have been killed in gun battles and in crashing helicopters. And they died Tuesday in Kandahar province in a dismayingly familiar way

The cost of war -- [Desert Bound - in Afghanistan]
Sadly, the battalion has lost another Soldier. On Oct. 24, PFC Devin Michel was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device. PFC Michel served with Charlie Company, 3rd Platoon and was only 19 years old. I had just went out on patrol with PFC Michel and his platoon two days earlier and took quite a few pictures of him during that patrol. I've attached a few here. I'll post more pictures after the memorial service. Please keep his family, friends and fellow Soldiers in your prayers.

Militants Attack UN Guest House in Kabul, Killing Nine --[New York Times]
Taliban gunmen stormed a guest house in central Kabul on Wednesday morning, killing nine people, including six United Nations employees, two Afghan security officials and an Afghan civilian, according to police and UN officials. Three attackers wearing suicide vests also were killed by the police, said Syed Abdul Ghafar, head of the criminal department of the Kabul police department. Through a spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban took responsibility for the attack on the guest house, known as Bakhtar, which is often used by foreigners working for various United Nations agencies.

Multiple Attacks Underway In Kabul -- [P.J. Tobia- in Afghanistan]
A UN guest house was assaulted at dawn this morning and three UN staff members are reportedly killed. Police are still surrounding the building and involved in a shootout with the insurgents inside. Gunfire could be heard reverberating in the morning sky and helicopters are circling the city. I have received unconfirmed reports of an attack on the four-star Sarena Hotel, small arms fire on Butcher Street and rocket fire throughout the city. More as I hear it. UPDATE 10:30 a.m. local: The attack on the UN guest house, where foreign UN staff lives appears to be winding down. An announcement on local radio by the Minister of Interior, said that six UN staffers died in the pre-dawn raid. In the ensuing battle, three insurgents were killed as well as two Afghan police officers. As the minister made the announcement, small arms fire could be heard popping in the background. (READ MORE)

Convoy to Airborne - Part One -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
After yesterday's entangle with the demonstration, I was sure our mission might be postponed for a few days. Instead, we decided to roll out the next morning. This time the ANA would lead the way and we would escort several 7-ton trucks full of winterization equipment. The air is getting colder in the morning and at night, so everyone started donning warmer clothing. The gunners have it the worst and most will wear face masks to keep warm. Once again I would be the convoy commander, but the ANA pick-up truck would be the lead vehicle. As we drove through the center of the city, we passed by several government buildings. This time the police were in their riot gear including helmets with face shields. They stood stoically next to each other forming a human wall with their protective shields in front of them. Since it was early morning and rather brisk out, I figured we had a good chance of missing the organized demonstrators

Permissive Environment -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
Gunfire rippled across the morning calm of Jalalabad today. From what we have learned there were up to four gunmen on the lose. Two were detected when they walking into he Nangarhar Hotel armed with AK 47's and pistols. There was a Provincial Directors workshop in progress which was probably the intended target. As they walked up to the hotel they were identified and challenged by one of the 20 or so ANP soldiers who mill about the area and the lead gunmen opened fire. He hit the closest policemen who in turn shot the first bad guy dead and the second bad guy retreated up to the second floor and barricaded himself in his room. The Provincial Directors bailed out of the second story windows with at least one being directed to exit the building by the surviving gunman.

Hashing through Kabul -- [Seattle Times]
8 U.S. troops die; Oct. is Afghan war's deadliest month
We ran along a route that took us past the poppy palaces built with drug money, and down a side street where a young carpenter tapped together wooden door frames. We ran along the trash strewn course of the weak-flowing Kabul River,
We made our way down a slimy tributary that offered whiffs of sewage.

Deployed McChord Airman helps develop Balad Wounded Warriors Program -- [446th AW]
As his deployment comes to a close, Senior Airman Raymond Jones, 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron plans and programming project manager, can reflect on his accomplishments -- both on and off duty - during his nine-plus months at Joint Base Balad. Landing at JBB on Dec. 31, he began volunteering almost immediately.
"Not long after I got here, I ran into an Airman I had done a lot of volunteering with during my time at tech school for Simone's Hurricane Relief in Biloxi, Mississippi," said Airman Jones, who's deployed from the 62nd Communications Squadron at McChord. "We heard about the medevac mission at Balad. So, in the early part of January, we started volunteering." He said after a few months, the two Airmen had participated in more than 60 medical evacuation missions and loaded approximately 2,000 patients onto helicopters.

Video of COP Keating (Kamdesh) -- [The Captain's Journal]
Following up on Kamdesh Troops Were Sitting Ducks: The Importance of Terrain, this video is a stark reminder of just where COP Keating was located. They were completely walled-in by the terrain. Perhaps the ease of vehicle movement and delivery of logistics was the reason for locating COP Keating where they did. But they didn't have even a single hill which abuts the COP (or or on which the COP is at least partially built). Every direction is up. It would have been better to have utilized a hill and go to the hassle of building, walking and driving on sloped terrain. (VIEW VIDEO)

US to Protect Populous Afghan Areas, Officials Say -- [New York Times]
President Obama's advisers are focusing on a strategy for Afghanistan aimed at protecting about 10 top population centers, administration officials said Tuesday, describing an approach that would stop short of an all-out assault on the Taliban while still seeking to nurture long-term stability. Mr. Obama has yet to make a decision and has other options available to him, but as officials described it, the debate is no longer over whether to send more troops, but how many more will be needed. The question of how much of the country should fall under the direct protection of American and NATO forces will be central to deciding how many troops will be sent.

Brother of Afghan Leader Is Said to Be on C.I.A. Payroll -- [NY Times]
Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of the Afghan president and a suspected player in the country's booming illegal opium trade, gets regular payments from the Central Intelligence Agency, and has for much of the past eight years, according to current and former American officials.

The Most Important Article on Afghanistan You'll Read This Week -- [Abu Muqawama]
Why, you ask? Because if this is true, and if the CIA is empowering Ahmed Wali Karzai at the same time in which NATO/ISAF is saying abusive local power-brokers are a threat to mission success, then this is yet another example of NATO/ISAF carrying out one campaign in Afghanistan while the CIA carries out another -- with both campaigns operating at cross purposes to one another. I should say here that I am in no position to confirm or deny this report. I can, however, say that numerous military officials in southern Afghanistan with whom I have spoken identify AWK and his activities as the biggest problem they face -- bigger than the lack of government services or even the Taliban. And so if AWK is "the agency's guy", that leads to a huge point of friction between NATO/ISAF and the CIA. Again, I am not currently serving as an advisor to ISAF and cannot speak for Gen. McChrystal's command. But I do not have to:

Obama Redefines White House Relationship with Top Field Commander -- [Los Angeles Times]
President Obama and his predecessor differ significantly in their approach to America's wars. They differ at least as much in their relationship with their top battlefield commander. During the Bush administration, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the then-ground commander in Iraq, assumed the role of a trusted advisor who frequently visited the White House or talked to the president by phone. But Obama's commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, occupies a defined place in the chain of command. The two have met face-to-face twice -- and one of those was after the general infuriated the White House by discussing U.S. strategy in an overseas speech.

Take Your Sweet Time, Obama -- [Andrew Exum, The Daily Beast]
President Obama is entering the final stages of his deliberations of Afghanistan. He's deciding whether to send more troops, or reframe U.S. policy to allow for something less than the counterinsurgency campaign he promised in March. As he ponders, it's hard not to feel a little sympathy for the commander in chief. He and his administration are trying to find a path to victory in a difficult war in Central Asia while at the same time navigating treacherous political terrain at home.
Popular support for the war has fallen rapidly over the last six months--the product, in part, of a near-decade of constant war that has left large portions of the American public drifting toward neo-isolationism.

Krauthammer: Obama's Continued & Disingenuous Attacks On Bush Beyond Disgraceful (Video) -- [Gateway Pundit]

U.S. official resigns over Afghan war -- [Washington Post]
Foreign Service officer and former Marine captain says he no longer knows why his nation is fighting

Reason to Quit? -- [Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
Matthew Hoh's resignation from the State Department is a great story. A Marine hero scarred by the Iraq war becomes a government aid worker in Afghanistan and finds nothing but greater disappointment. His letter of resignation is an eloquent testimony to the power of his convictions. I only wish the reasons behind those convictions--the reasons that he ended his career in the Foreign Service--made more sense.
Hoh is convincing on the human toll of the war, but in my opinion there are holes in his analysis of the regional security situation and the nature of the insurgent and terrorist threat. He argues, for example, ....

McCain: Why we can -- and must -- win the war in Afghanistan -- [CNN]
For the first time since September 11, 2001, America is having a vigorous national debate about how to succeed in Afghanistan. This debate is entirely worth having. Whenever America sends its citizens into harm's way, it must do so with eyes wide open.

'Af-Pak Hands' Strives for Continuity in US Mission -- [Defense Link]
The US military is building a cadre of officers who each will serve a multi-year assignment dedicated to a narrow piece of the US strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Known as "Af-Pak Hands," the program steeps officers in the language and culture of the region, and limits the range of their duties and focus on a single area for a four-to-five-year cycle. Officers will serve in a similar job at home and downrange, an aspect of the program military officials say will enable them to create and maintain relationships with the local populace abroad, a lynchpin of counterinsurgency doctrine. "They'll be a group of experts that will learn to speak the local languages, understand the dialects, become attuned to the culture and remain focused on the problem for an extended period, rather than just on a rotation basis," a military official said

Car bomb kills 91 in Pakistani city of Peshawar‎ -- [AP]
A car bomb tore through a busy market in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing 91 people as US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham

Clinton Visits Pakistan in Bid to Improve Ties -- [Washington Post]
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a three-day visit aimed at quelling rising anti-Americanism and convincing Pakistanis that the United States wants a relationship based on more than counterterrorism. Her first trip here since becoming secretary comes amid a major Pakistani military offensive against insurgent sanctuaries near the Afghanistan border, and a wave of suicide bombings, assassinations and attacks in Pakistani cities.

Secretary of State Clinton Says US Is "Turning the Page" With Pakistan... Misrepresents Bush Years -- [Gateway Pundit]
Hilalry Clinton continued to bash Bush today in Pakistan telling officials that the US is ready to "turn the page" from the previous administration's security agenda.
My Way reported

IRAQ

USA Today Coincidence -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
In the afternoon of the day the USA Today article was published we had our first rocket attack in almost four months. One rocket hit out out in the desert, one hit a CHU in the civilian housing area, and one was a dud but smashed a generator on impact. I was on the other side of the base when they hit. So after no attacks for four months, they send rockets on the day that USA Today says there is not much to do and the war is over.
On the day of the missile attack, several mechanics were returning to their living area and saw the dud missile as it was streaking down into the auxiliary generator. They saw the impact and

A resilient Baghdad on a day of horror -- [Washington Post]
....But my Iraqi friends were surprisingly upbeat about the future, even after Sunday's terrible bombings. "In every sector, Iraq is coming back to its normal mode," said one. "There is no way it will slip back," insisted the other. I wondered at their confidence on such a day, but that is part of the Iraqi toughness.
Rather than talking about the bombings, we talked politics. My friends sharply criticized the incumbent prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. But as we were debating, one turned to me with a smile: "Here we are talking about who will run the government after the elections. Could you do that in any other country in the Arab world?"

Extremist Group Claims Responsibility for Baghdad Bombs -- [Washington Post]
The Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni extremist group that includes al Qaeda in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for twin bombings Sunday that targeted key government buildings and killed nearly 160 Iraqis, according to a claim posted online. The group called the targeted sites "dens of infidelity," according to a statement posted on a Web site used by extremists to make such claims.

Legislators in Iraq Block a Deal on Election Law -- [New York Times]
The country's political parties failed to agree on election laws on Tuesday, despite a proposed deal put together by the nation's top political figures the day before. The stalemate was another blockage in negotiations that have dragged on for weeks, threatening national elections scheduled for Jan. 16. The official deadline for passing the election laws was Oct. 15. Elections can still be held on time if the parties agree on terms this week, but not much later, said Said Arikat, a spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, which proposed guidelines to break the logjam among the parties. "This is really crunch time," Mr. Arikat said. "We have everything in place to conduct an election on time. With every passing day, it becomes more difficult."

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Couple Feared Captured by Pirates -- [New York Times]
A British couple sailing from the island nation of Seychelles vanished after their distress signal was picked up Friday, and British officials have warned the couple's family that they may have been kidnapped by Somali pirates. A man who has acted as a spokesman for the Somali pirates in the past told a Somali-based reporter working for The New York Times that the couple had been seized by pirates on the Indian Ocean. Speaking by telephone from the pirates' stronghold in the Somali coastal town of Xarardheere, the spokesman, who identifies himself as Farah Abdi, said, "We have them safely in our hands." He said that the captives and sailboat would be heading to the town "any day soon," and that the pirates' practice was to hold off on ransom demands

Gates Asks Xu to Help Break 'On-Again, Off-Again' Cycle -- [Defense Link]
Breaking the cycle of "on-again, off-again" military-to-military relations between the United States and China is of primary importance to the two nations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told his Chinese counterpart here today. Gates met with Chinese Gen. Xu Caihou, the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Liberation Army, for more than an hour at the Pentagon. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell called the meetings "good and productive." The two men spoke about the course of US-Chinese relations, the progress made on military-to-military relations and the military-to-military goals for 2010.

Tensions Between Turkey and the West Increase -- [New York Times]
With Turkey's prospects for joining the European Union growing more elusive and the country reaching out to predominantly Muslim countries with a vigor not seen in years, a longstanding question is vexing the United States and Europe: Is this large, secular Muslim country turning East instead of West? When President Obama visited Turkey in April - a symbolic gesture that underlined Turkey's geostrategic importance - he emphasized the country's role as a bridge between East and West, acknowledged its mediation in the Arab-Israeli conflict and threw his weight solidly behind Turkey becoming a European Union member. Now, six months later, some in Washington and Brussels are questioning Turkey's dependability as an ally,

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

2 Charged by US with Plotting Attacks -[Washington Post]
Federal prosecutors unsealed charges Tuesday alleging that two men participated in a terrorism plot that took them from Chicago to Denmark. The case is the latest example of US citizens accused of seeking to travel overseas to carry out violent extremist attacks. Using e-mail messages, recorded conversations and surveillance, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force traced the movements of David C. Headley from his apartment in Chicago to Pakistan, where he met at least once with a top al-Qaeda figure to plan foreign operations, according to court papers. Headley has been in custody since he tried to leave Chicago's O'Hare International Airport three weeks ago, but authorities said they had delayed public notice of the conspiracy charges against him so they could conduct "further investigative activity."

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Sgt. Merlin German: Miracle Marine -- [Villainous Co.]
...These days we're bombarded with information and requests for help. It's easy to distance ourselves; to avert our eyes and go on with our lives when we're asked for help. But how often do we have the chance to literally change the course of someone else's life? How often do we have the chance to offer encouragement and hope to those who have placed their lives on the line for us?
Project Valour IT offers that kind of chance. The phrase "give 'til it hurts" is overused. It's too easy to ignore. But the truth of the matter is that few of us will ever experience one tenth of what wounded vets endure - and rise above - every single day.

Please Lend A Hand -- [Suldog]
...Every day, in military hospitals and physical therapy centers across this land, there are people facing my greatest fear. They're doing so because they saw it as their duty to put their lives on the line for you and me. They didn't lose their lives, though. Instead, they lost their ability to function as independently as they did before being wounded grievously.
In fighting for our freedom, they have lost much of their own.

Project Valour-IT, Carren's perspective -- [From my position... On the way! - Chuck Z's Wife]
Not only was Chuck able to blog with his new laptop and voice-activated software, I was able to relax a little bit more. Instead of trying to figure how to get Chuck some sort of outlet, I knew he had one. Instead of going to the Mologne House every night, wondering how Chuck will manage throughout the night, I knew he had an outlet. Instead of feeling guilty as hell when I went somewhere without him (for ME time), I knew Chuck had his connection to the outside world.
The laptop and software were truly a gift that can not be put into words. Even after Chuck was initially discharged from Walter Reed, we returned MANY times for subsequent surgeries. His Valour-IT laptop and software were always there for him, especially when he couldn't type with his hand(s). I could go on all day about how amazing this program is...

Project Valour-IT -- [Castle Argghhh!!!]
...Comes now the hard part. Not where I ask you for money - that's the easy part - we're done with that. No, now is where I promise that if you donate to Team Army, you won't ever have *this* show up at your door.

Give a soldier a vacation! -- [A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq
I've come across several organizations that offer free vacations to troops returning home from deployment. Each of these organizations is usually the effort of a small number of individuals or merchants, each donating time in their own vacation home, or a gift certificate for vacation and travel related services.

Donate a cell phone for the troops -- [A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq
Both times I deployed, I took my satellite phone. It was a big fat brick of a phone, it looked a little like the old briefcase phones, like the drug dealers were using in the movie "New Jack City". I picked it up on ebay, it didn't hold a charge well, and the recharger was a chunky plug that was wired for European outlets. The sandstorms and helicopters would mess up reception, and I needed a direct view of the sky to use it. Still, that phone served me well and I actually completed 1/3 of my MBA from Iraq by teleconferencing with my study group, sitting out on top of the bunkers on moonless nights. Best of all, when times were tough and I was low, I knew I could reach out to Meredith and there was no better way to recharge my spirit. A great way to give a troop a boost is to donate a cell phone.

MILITARY

Some Troops Have a Sixth Sense for Bombs -- [Los Angeles Times]
As Marines train to deploy to war zones, there is daily discussion about how to detect and disarm the buried roadside bombs that are the No. 1 killer of Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Military researchers have found that two groups of personnel are particularly good at spotting anomalies: those with hunting backgrounds, who traipsed through the woods as youths looking to bag a deer or turkey; and those who grew up in tough urban neighborhoods, where it is often important to know what gang controls which block. Personnel who fit neither category, often young men who grew up in the suburbs and developed a liking for video games, do not seem to have the depth perception and peripheral vision of the others, even if their eyesight is 20/20.

WELCOME HOME

Troops returning to Fort Sill -- [WAND]
About 160 soldiers from Illinois and South Carolina will be honored at an early morning welcome-home ceremony at Fort Sill.

Local Guard unit to return from Afghanistan -- [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]
An official welcome home celebration might not be held until January after the soldiers have spent the holidays with their families, Albert said

THE MEDIA

Embracing bad news -- [Armed and Curious - in Iraq]
One of the first lessons I learned as a public affairs officer in Iraq is that there are some reporters who are going to dig up things you really don't want the world to know about your organization. I quickly figured out that hiding under my desk with my fingers in my ears muttering "You don't see me...you don't see me" over and over didn't really make the situation any better.

I'm Back And In A Magazine -- [Sour Swinger]
After a long month hiatus, I figure its time to finish up this blog. I've spent the last month chilling out and visiting family. It feels great to be back in the states and settled back into a less stressful life. Believe or not, but its been a warm welcome to not have to deal with this blogging for a bit. Think I needed a break from writing. But alas, I have returned and will spend the next two weeks or so to post up the remainder of my videos and pictures.
First up on the list, MY BLOG MADE IT IN A MAGAZINE!!!! Go figure. I was contacted a few months back by University Link Magazine. Its an edgy, socially conscious campus magazine written exclusively for college students by college students.

News gets worse for the MSM -- [Politico]
There have been a lot of bad days recently for what's come to be known as the Mainstream Media - or MSM - but Monday was one of the worst. -- New circulation figures showed that big city papers had lost as much as a quarter of their circulation in the last six months.

POLITICS

Obama to sign military budget bill -- [AFP]
US President Barack Obama will Wednesday sign a 680-billion-dollar defense authorization bill, which includes funds to train Afghan security forces and for more mine resistant troop carriers.
Obama will host a ceremony before signing the bill, after waging a campaign to purge the mammoth legislation of wasteful and bloated spending.
The bill had earlier stirred fears of a presidential veto, after lawmakers permitted spending on a fighter aircraft the Pentagon opposes.
"As commander-in-chief, I will always do whatever it takes to defend the American people," Obama said, in excerpts of remarks he was to deliver at the bill signing ceremony later Wednesday. "That is why this bill provides for the best military in the history of the world."

For First Time Under Obama, Majority Says U.S. Is on Wrong Track -- [Politics Daily]
While the stock market has picked up and the country appears to be pulling out of the recession, a majority of Americans - for the first time in the Obama presidency - says the U.S. is headed down the wrong track

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN?PAKISTAN

Helicopter collision kills four US troops in Afghanistan -- [USA Today]
KABUL -- Four US servicemembers were killed and two injured today when two helicopters collided in southern Afghanistan. Hostile fire has been ruled out in

Republicans: Clock Is Ticking on Afghanistan Troop Decision -- [FOX News]
As Democrats defend President Obama's decision to take his time and carefully consider conflicting strategy proposals from top advisers, Republican senators say the clock is ticking -- with allied forces continuing to suffer casualties in part because they lack reinforcements.

Afghan candidate says 'dramatic' surge needed, backs McChrystal assessment -- [The Hill]
Afghanistan's opposition candidate backed Gen. Stanley McChrystal's recommendations for more troops Sunday, saying "the future of the country is at risk" without a "dramatic increase" in troop levels.
Former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who faces off against President Hamid Karzai in a Nov. 7 runoff, said on "Fox News Sunday" that he's also leaving open the possibility of an election boycott if recommendations aren't met to ensure transparency and stem fraud in the second round of voting.

Abdullah Abdullah -- [Greyhawk]
Would have made for interesting television to hear him answer questions on his fraudulent votes in the Afghan elections, but that's not the message the Obama administration wants Americans receiving just now. We'll have to settle for Abdullah explaining his opponent's corruption, instead.

Afghan presidential candidate asks for more troops -- [Big News]
Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah called for a 'dramatic increase' in troops to secure his country from insurgents, in an interview with US broadcaster Fox News Sunday.

Karzai questions US reliability as partner -- [The Age]
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai questioned the reliability of the United States as a partner Sunday, as he fought off criticism of his government's legitimacy following fraud-marred elections.
Karzai's main challenger, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, warned in an interview with CNN that the US strategy will not succeed without a credible partner in Kabul, blaming Karzai for deteriorating conditions.

545 Project Releases Powerful Video -- [A Soldier's Perspective]

U.S. troops hope Afghanistan sacrifices not in vain -- [Washington Times]
Doubts, determination to finish mission fill days
The sirens blared as a Taliban rocket attack rattled troops across Kandahar Air Field for the second time last week.
While the Obama administration debates whether to send tens of thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and Afghans prepare to vote for president for the second time in four months, some of those already braving rockets and bombs worry that their mission has lost the support of the U.S. public and that their sacrifices - and those of their fallen comrades - have been in vain.
"What about the troops who died giving their lives for this mission?" Sgt. Coble asked as she waited for the rocket alert to finish. ..."We would not be honoring the lives of the troops who died if we left here without finishing our mission, and many troops are concerned that the American people have forgotten why we came here to begin with," she said.

Podesta: Bush Administration Spent Only One Hour On Afghanistan Report It Handed Off To Obama -- [Think Progress]
From Cheney's recent remarks to the Center for Security Policy:
In the fall of 2008, fully aware of the need to meet new challenges being posed by the Taliban, we dug into every aspect of Afghanistan policy, assembling a team that repeatedly went into the country, reviewing options and recommendations, and briefing President-elect Obama's team. They asked us not to announce our findings publicly, and we agreed, giving them the benefit of our work and the benefit of the doubt.
Today on ABC's This Week, Center for American Progress President and CEO John Podesta revealed that the Bush administration spent just one hour on that report:
PODESTA: [T]hey did present him with a report at the very end of the Bush administration, but I have it from reliable sources that the principals in the Bush administration spent one hour on that report before they handed it off to Obama.

Presidential Elections Round 2 -- [3rd Time, New Country - in Afghanistan]
It's been another odd week here in Kabul. I guess there isn't really any reference for a "normal" week, but I will still call it an odd week. I have been on 3 convoys, the team presented what we are doing to the CG (Commanding General) and I woke up in the middle of the night to an earthquake. Lastly, Karzi agreed to a second round of presidential elections for 07 Nov. We will have to wait and see how that turns out. The team has been back and forth to Camp Eggers three times this past week.

The Warlord and The Election -- [A World of Troubles - in Afghanistan]
Haji Jan Dad showing the bullet embedded in his hand, Simon Klingert (c)
Haji Jan Dad is riddled with the scars of some 20 years of combat as a mountain fighter. Shrapnel is embedded in the back of his head, his arm has been ripped open by bullets. He has a PKM machine gun round lodged between his thumb and index finger that he's never bothered to remove.
On a sunny day at the end of August, dozens of Afghan elders in traditional dress and long beards were facing a few American soldiers on the terrace outside Haji Jan Dad's compound. They were assembled under the auspices of a truce.

Eastern Afghanistan provinces establish regional peace Jirga -- [PRT Kunar - in Afghanistan]
NANGARHAR, Afghanistan -In a show of unity, more than 300 leaders and elders from four eastern provinces gathered Oct. 22 for the first regional Jirga to talk about peace, prosperity and the rehabilitation of Afghanistan.
..."Today is a day of happiness. We are looking for a security solution in the eastern region and a Jirga is the right approach to our problems," Sherzai said. "I'm optimistic that we will come up with solutions for the eastern region here today that meet our goal of peace, security and prosperity in the eastern provinces."
The tone of today's meeting was also about reconciliation with Taliban and anti-government people.
"It is time to talk with each other about security...to talk about peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. ..."ISAF forces are not here forcefully and are here helping us. They leave their countries and families to help us bring peace and prosperity. We have the need for friendly forces because they are sacrificing their lives for our peace," Mashal said.
It was a sentiment echoed by Jamaluddin Badar, Nuristan provincial governor.
"We should work to not let bad people in our country," Badar said. "We should help the Coalition Forces and not the terrorist groups who bring their fighters here.

Fragile turnaround in an enemy stronghold -- [Boston Globe]
Afghan district sees renewal as Marines take over
Before a battalion of US Marines swooped into this dusty farming community along the Helmand River in early July, almost every stall in the bazaar had been padlocked, as had the school and the health clinic. Thousands of residents had fled. Government officials and municipal services were nonexistent. Taliban fighters swaggered about with impunity, setting up checkpoints and seeding the roads with bombs.
In the three months since the Marines arrived, the school has reopened, the district governor is on the job, and the market is bustling. The insurgents have demonstrated far less resistance than US commanders expected.

"Hardly Mission Impossible" -- [OPFOR - Lt Col P in Afghanistan]
Max Boot goes to Afghanistan and reports back in The Weekly Standard: "Tremendous obstacles abound, ranging from the resilience of the Taliban to the ineptitude and corruption of the Afghan government. But it is hardly mission impossible. In areas such as Baraki Barak, U.S. soldiers and civilians have been making impressive progress ever since this summer, when the U.S. troop level in Afghanistan hit 64,000--up from just 32,000 in 2008. (There are now 68,000 troops with the arrival of another brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division devoted to training Afghan soldiers in the south.) But there are still far too few U.S. soldiers here to roll back years of gains by the Taliban in the south and east of the country." He's right-- it ain't easy but it's not impossible either.

Kandaks -- [Embedded in Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
In Afghan languages a kandak is a battalion. I can remember visiting a base outside of our area and talking to a someone who during our conversation remarked to me, "Oh, you're with 3rd Kdk? Is that an infantry battalion?" I was a little taken aback by the question and almost remarked in Colonel Jessup from A Few Good Men fashion "Is there any other kind?" But I caught myself, as I remembered that there are indeed other types of kandaks out there, just like in our military. The ANA do have tanks, artillery, Afghan Commandos, and other types of units, to include aviation.

On the Road -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
I started my trip to Kabul yesterday. We stayed on the German run base at Marmol, which has an airport. We had to wait until the next day for a flight into Kabul. Like all people who live on a small sized Camp we had to tour around the "big city" and observe all the ammenities available.
...Another topic I have failed to adequately describe is that of money. For US forces in the northern region there is only one way to get cash. Nope, there are no ATMs. Nope, there is no finance office. The only way to get cash is when a team comes up to cash checks every month or two.

UK helps boost economic growth in Helmand -- [Helmand Blog]
Like any self-respecting businessman Nah Sarang wants to expand.
With 30 people in his family, including parents and grandparents, the 25 year-old farmer in Gereshk, Helmand province, makes regular trips to sell his wheat and corn in the Mayors market in the centre of Lashkar Gah.

Afghans protest rumored desecration of Koran by U.S. troops -- [LA Times]
Hundreds of protesters in Kabul burn an effigy of President Obama, a sign of rising religious conservatism and anti-Americanism in the country. The U.S. military denies any sacrilege took place.

In the middle of Afghan demonstrations -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
After several hours of delay, our convoy departed the camp for our mission. Much of the delays were caused by our unfamiliarity with the various MRAP models. For the past 5 months, the armored HMMVWs have been our vehicle of choice and we are intimately familiar with them. Yesterday we were supposed to have the vehicles by afternoon, but they didn't return until dark. So we used the shotgun approach and familiarized ourselves with the equipment and communication items before we departed. Today's mission called for a convoy of MRAPs and I was the convoy commander in the lead vehicle. This was the first time I have been given this opportunity. I was a bit nervous because we were going to travel a brand new route and as convoy commander I was in charge of making decisions, even though officer teammates outranked me in the convoy.

ISAF Responds to Rumors -- [ISAF]
25 Oct. - KABUL, Afghanistan - International Security Assistance Forces have responded to false accusations that a U.S. service member burned the Quran last week in the Maydan Shar district, Wardak province.

Fallen Soldier Was Anxious To Return To Afghanistan -- [NPR]
Specialist Stephan Mace, 21, grew up in a small town in Virginia and was known as the ultimate prankster. Inspired by his grandfather, a former CIA agent, Mace joined the U.S. Army and was posted to Afghanistan earlier this year. He was killed in an attack this month.

US strikes in Bajaur tribal areas, kills 27 Taliban, al Qaeda -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Unmanned aircraft operated by the US attacked a meeting of the Bajaur Taliban, killing 27 Islamist extremists. The attack came close to killing one of the senior-most Taliban commanders in Pakistan.
The strikes, likely carried out by Predators or Reapers, struck underground bunkers in Damadola in the Mamond region in the northern tribal agency of Bajaur. The Taliban were holding a regional shura, or council, with members from Dir, Swat, and Mohmand in attendance. Al Qaeda members were also present.

Report: U.S. drone kills 24 in Pakistan -- [UPI]
A U.S. drone reportedly killed 24 people in northern Pakistan, including Taliban members meeting in an underground hideout, witnesses and officials said.
Twelve people were reported wounded in Saturday's attack in Damadola, Bajaur, about 4 miles from the Afghan border.
"I heard two loud explosions when a meeting of the Taliban was in progress," Damadola resident Hazrat Gul told Sunday's edition of Dawn.

Pakistani Taliban's Chief Warns of More Attacks Unless Military Stops Assaults -- [Fox News]
The Pakistani Taliban's chief is vowing to turn Pakistan into "another Afghanistan or Iraq" unless the military stops its assault in the militants' stronghold near the Afghan border

IRAQ

Bombings target government in Baghdad, 147 killed -- [SanDiego News/AP]
A pair of suicide car bombings Sunday devastated the heart of Iraq's capital, killing at least 147 people in the country's deadliest attack in more than two years. The bombs targeted two government buildings and called into question Iraq's ability to protect its people as U.S. forces withdraw.
...The dead included 35 employees at the Ministry of Justice and at least 25 staff members of the Baghdad Provincial Council, said police and medical officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. At least 721 people were wounded, including three American contractors.

White House decries 'hateful' attacks in Iraq -- [Detroit News]
Scores killed, but nation's progress on track, U.S. says
Washington -- President Barack Obama said Sunday's "outrageous attacks" outside government offices in the Iraqi capital "reveal the hateful and destructive agenda of those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that they deserve."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the "savage" attacks will not succeed in undermining Iraq's progress toward stability, self-reliance and justice based on the rule of law.

On a sad day for Iraq, things are quiet at CKV -- [The Oregonian]
CKV holds about a thousand people, including members of other branches and contractors. But about 120 Oregonians are running the place, which, as you can see from the picture below, ain't exactly paradise. But their goal is to be the unit that sees it closed down and returned to the Iraqis ... assuming the political and military process works the way it is supposed to. With the explosions in Baghdad yesterday and the uncertainty about the January elections, that's a big If.

Texas Army National Guard 36th ID prepares for deployment in Iraq -- [Waco Tribune Herald]
The 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard once again will be deployed to Iraq in 2010

Mesa unit prepares to deploy to Iraq -- [The Arizona Republic]
Sgt. First Class Justin Broadwater has been deployed to Iraq before, but the trip there that begins this week will be different for him.
Broadwater was one of 58 soldiers of the 653rd Support Group saying goodbye to family and friends Sunday in a deployment ceremony held at the Herrera Army Reserve Center in Mesa. The unit provides support for troops heading in to and out of Iraq. The soldiers leave for Fort Lewis, Wash., for combat readiness training later this week before deploying to Iraq.

Iraq: Open for Business -- [At War - NY Times]
A milestone in the war in Iraq passed this week largely unnoticed here in a capital consumed more recently by Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, not to mention the economy or health care. Hundreds of Iraqi officials -- said to be the largest delegation from Iraq ever to visit the United States -- gathered in a hotel near Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss neither security nor American troop levels. Rather they came to promote something that was once, and might still be, more of a hope than a reality: investment.

Soldier connects Iraqi, U.S. children -- [Lejeune Deployed]
Seeing a disparity in the quantity and quality of school supplies in some Iraqi primary schools, one U.S. Soldier here decided to do something about it.
Staff Sgt. Jared Wiegand, a Fort Wayne, Ind. native with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, was home last March on leave during his deployment to Kirkuk province, and decided to visit J.E. Ober Elementary School in Garrett, Ind., where his sister-in-law teaches.
After spending roughly an hour speaking with the children and showing them photos of Iraq, Wiegand mentioned how Iraqi children were less fortunate and did not have the same opportunities to achieve the same levels of education as children in the U.S. In response, Mrs. Alecia Pfefferkorn created a competition at the school to gather school supplies such as pencils, notebooks and markers for the Iraqi children.
Following the competition, the school supplies were sent to Wiegand in Iraq with the assistance of the local Garrett, Ind. American Legion chapter.

Back am I -- [Because We're Here Boy, No One Else; Just Us." - in Iraq]
I am back to my corner of the imperial frontier, having arrived 3 days ago. The flight from the States was uneventful and quick. Nobody shot any missiles at us so I guess they are making their monthly payments on time. The aircraft was completely blacked out on approach though so it isn't the first world yet.
Everything looks the same at my big base home. They built a false ceiling in the gym so it is quieter. The whole base seems quieter, not nearly the hustle and bustle of the past; fewer vehicles moving about the streets, fewer people in the chow hall, not nearly the number of Antonovs and IL-76s coming and going. Just quieter.

Who Fights This War--Retiring to a Gun in the Sun -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
If you're looking for retirement advice, don't ask Master Sgt. William Foster, 55, a door gunner in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment. The former Punxsutawney, Pa., police department patrol sergeant did not move to Florida and did not take a part-time job like many retirees. 'Punxsutawney Bill,' as he is known in the town he has lived in all of his life, decided to volunteer as a door gunner and go to Iraq for retirement.

Thank You For Your Support -- [Iron camel - in Iraq]
I would like to thank everyone for the support they have given me since I started this blog.
There have been many changes here over the last few weeks: New teams in, old teams out. New people in charge, new way of doing things, and as for our team, we are wrapping things up and getting ready to come home.
I hope everyone enjoyed reading the blog, I wish everyone the best, and most of all, I look forward to getting back home.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

NEFA Foundation: "Target: America" The September 2009 Arrest of Najibullah Zazi and the Ongoing Investigation into his Terror Plot -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Najibullah Zazi emigrated with his family from Afghanistan as a child and grew up in Flushing, Queens. He shared the same interests as other typical American teens, including a love of video games and the latest fashions. He dropped out of high school, then started operating a coffee cart in Lower Manhattan. In 2006, ...

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

The American Legion and Target Join Forces to Raise More than $100,000 to Help Troops Attacked in Afghanistan -- [The American Legion]
In less than a week, an American Legion blog site raised more than $50,000, which Target matched with an additional $50,000 contribution, to help U.S. soldiers who were forced to destroy their camp and all of their possessions during a deadly Oct. 3 enemy attack in Afghanistan. In addition, Connecticut-based Computer Sciences Corporation has donated 56 laptop computers to the relief effort to replace those that were destroyed.
The Combat Outpost Keating Relief Fund sprang to life on The American Legion's Burn Pit blog site after one of the 56 surviving troops wrote in an e-mail that he believed no one at home had any idea what they were doing there, and that no one cared.
"The American Legion, Target and all who contributed to the COP Keating Relief Fund have shown these brave soldiers that we do indeed care," American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill said.

Combat vets: Outward Bound -- [Greyhawk]
This looks like a great opportunity for Afghanistan and Iraq vets looking for challenge, adventure, and camaraderie - Outward Bound's reintegration wilderness expeditions. Fully-funded (including transportation to and from the locations) trips include canoeing in the Florida Everglades, kayaking the Alabama Gulf Coast, winter expeditions in the Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Dogsledding & Skiing, and sailing the Florida Keys

MILITARY

Schwartz: If CentCom asks, we'll deliver -- [Air Force Times]
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has fired back at criticism from the Defense Department inspector general over Air Force trainers not being assigned yearlong tours in Afghanistan.
The Air Force would make one-year assignments if U.S. Central Command requested them, Schwartz wrote an Oct. 6 letter to the Inspector General's Office.
"The Air Force continues to source airmen on 365-day tours when requested by the combatant commander to meet theater requirements," Schwartz wrote.

Female Warriors Engage in Combat in Iraq, Afghanistan -- [ABC News]
The image of young women in a hot , dusty combat zone toting automatic weapons is still startling to some. But right now there are 10,000 women serving in Iraq, more than 4,000 in Afghanistan. They have been fighting and dying next to their male comrades since the wars began.

Battlefield Airmen Considered a Weapon System -- [DVIDS]
The capabilities of battlefield Airmen are considered just as lethal as any advanced weapons system. For that reason, tactical air control party personnel, pararescuemen, security forces personnel and special operations weathermen have been included in the annual Weapons and Tactics Conference held here this week.
Nearly 1,200 Air Force warfighters met in 30 working groups on Air Force weapons systems to decide on what's needed to succeed in future battles and missions.

WELCOME HOME

A.W.O.L: A Warrior on Liberty -- [Castra Praetoria - home from Iraq]
Decompression, relaxation, and multiple cups of joseph are all in order.
I have no interest in making any decisions, thinking, or anything resembling taking responsibility for myself or anyone else. Waiters and staff are making all decisions for me:
"Sir, would you like to try our..."
"Yes, I would."

Troops return to Tallassee from Iraq -- [WSFA]
... eyes in Tallassee as families and friends welcomed home members of the Army National Guard's 158th Maintenance Company after a long deployment to Iraq

Families excited for 1133rd return on Wednesday -- [Mason City Globe Gazette]
The 1133rd will come home on Wednesday after a year-long deployment in Iraq. (Bryon Houlgrave/The Globe Gazette) MASON CITY -- The homecoming celebration for ...

Soldiers honored upon return from Afghanistan -- [ABC7Chicago]
Soldiers of the Illinois National Guard were honored Sunday after their return from serving in Afghanistan.

THE MEDIA

Controversy lingers over covering war dead -- [Columbus Dispatch]
When President George H.W. Bush's administration banned the media from covering the arrival of the fallen at Dover Air Force Base during the Persian Gulf War nearly 20 years ago, the stated reason was to protect the families' privacy.
But in the six months since the controversial ban was lifted and 258 families were allowed to choose whether they wanted the media present, 60 percent said yes, according to the military.
...there are often just a handful of journalists on hand. More than a third of all ceremonies open to the media in the first six months were covered only by the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, the military, which had feared from the beginning that families who said yes to media coverage would be disappointed by the turnout, has provided its own crews to cover those events approved by the family and posts the images on the Web. As a result, the Defense Department has become one of the main distributors of the images of the fallen.

POLITICS

Road map to a quagmire -- [Statesman - Bob Woodward and Gordon M. Goldstein]
Decades after Vietnam, two top advisers to LBJ describe how a lack of frank and open talk in the White House led to disaster and defeat on the battlefield
Viewed together, McNamara and Bundy's final reflections suggest a shared vision of some of Vietnam's most critical lessons. The men conclude that the commander in chief must confront his advisers; the advisers, in turn, must confront the commander in chief. And military strategies proposed by the generals must be examined, deconstructed and challenged. McNamara and Bundy show how easy it is to fail.
About this story - This article is based on the last extended interviews Robert McNamara and McGeorge Bundy gave before they died.
Bob Woodward interviewed McNamara for more than two hours Aug. 7, 2007, at McNamara's Watergate apartment. McNamara agreed that the interview was on the record but at several points said he did not want to be quoted. His wife, Diana McNamara, was present for the entire session. After his death this summer, she agreed that all his comments should be published.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

A warning from the mountains -- [Al Jazeera Blogs]
I was still awake when I felt the quake just before 1am local time. The tremor lasted about 9 seconds - the earthquake centred in the Hindu Kush mountains.
We now know the epicentre was in the province of Badakshan. If you look at a map that's the part at the top of Afghanistan that resembles a finger jutting out towards China. The province is very mountainous and extremely poor.

New On MEMRI TV: Report on Taliban Operations in Kunar Province, Afghanistan -- [MEMRI Blog]
Including Interview with Taliban Field Commander and Head of Taliban Courts in Wardak

Nato 'backs new Afghan strategy' -- [BBC]
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says defence ministers broadly support the strategy for Afghanistan outlined by the international commander there.
Gen Stanley McChrystal is thought to want around 40,000 extra troops as part of a revised military strategy.
But at a meeting of Nato ministers in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates again publicly declined to endorse the plan.

Obama Team Meets on Afghanistan Runoff -- [Voice of America]
Gibbs said Mr. Obama examined the current political situation in Afghanistan, as part of his continuing assessment of whether to send more US troops there. He said the discussions aimed "to fix what went wrong" in the country's August election, which was marred by voter fraud. The problems led election officials to call for a runoff vote between President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.

The Wicked Game (part four) -- [Greyhawk]
...The Obama administration wants Karzai gone - and a "power sharing" option with challenger Abdullah Abdullah (who only had a little over 200,000 votes declared fraudulent) was supposed to (and may ultimately) be step one. Even after the certified results were released Karzai enjoys a comfortable lead over Abdullah, one that isn't expected to dwindle significantly in a second round held in deteriorating weather with increased security concerns and voter apathy factored in.

47 paces (to the closest bathroom) -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
Today's mission was canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date. I purposely did not take any pictures this morning because I was looking forward to visiting a village. ...I read today's newspaper and was surprised the Taliban haven't commented on the election runoff. I'm sure it will be only a matter of time before they voice their opposition or intentions. In the interim, the United Nations announced they will try to replace 200 of the 380 district election chiefs. Coincidentally the IEC (Independent Election Council) who was handpicked by President Karzai are also the ones who hand-picked the election chiefs. Perhaps this explains why the vote-rigging and ballot box stuffing and other irregularities were permitted to fester and the largest percentage of fraudulent votes was cast for Karzai. It's kind of like the fox guarding the hen house.

In Helmand, a model for success? -- [Washington Post]
...In the three months since the Marines arrived, the school has reopened, the district governor is on the job and the market is bustling. The insurgents have demonstrated far less resistance than U.S. commanders expected. Many of the residents who left are returning home, their possessions piled onto rickety trailers, and the Marines deem the central part of the town so secure that they routinely walk around without body armor and helmets.
"Nawa has returned from the dead," said the district administrator, Mohammed Khan.

Helmand a model for success? Wait and see. -- [Center For Defense Studies]
The local bazaar is thriving and locals no longer complain about security. Instead, they have shifted their focus to the next critical element of counterinsurgency -- education, health, agriculture and rural development. This is a remarkable turnaround of events that hasn't been the norm in Helmand. To build on the Marine's initial successes, reconstruction teams and most importantly, local governance structures must begin to deliver. More importantly, they themselves must begin to gain the trust of the local population. This will be the ultimate marker of success in Nawa, Helmand, and the rest of Afghanistan.
For their part, the insurgents have behaved exactly as one would expect. They have ...

The "Afghan face", or, problems operating with and mentoring the ANA -- [The Torch]
Capt. G.B. Rolston gives a lucid account (highlighting US Marines in Helmand) in an article in SITREP, The Journal of the Royal Canadian Military Institute. A particular difficulty is the effective inability to shift units from quieter parts of the country to reinforce or relieve those in more heavily contested ones: [...] Even a one-for-one swap of just a kandak or a brigade between mentor teams on opposite sides of the country would be extremely difficult (I've never heard of it actually being done): neither mentoring country involved would likely trust the outcome, if only because Afghan logistical administration is so appallingly poor, with most of the equipment of both kandaks likely "disappearing" during the handover in mentoring. So

Eastern Afghanistan provinces establish regional peace Jirga -- [PRT-Kunar - in Afghanistan]
NANGARHAR, Afghanistan -In a show of unity, more than 300 leaders and elders from four eastern provinces gathered Oct. 22 for the first regional Jirga to talk about peace, prosperity and the rehabilitation of Afghanistan. The provincial governors of Nangarhar, Kunar, Nuristan and Langham and elders representing tribes, villages and districts gathered at the Nangarhar governor's compound to lay out their homegrown plan to improve the security and development of the four easternmost Afghanistan provinces. "Today is a historical day for the eastern provinces for this peace Jirga. For the last couple of months, the eastern provincial governors have talked about peace and prosperity. Today is the day

Memory of Welsh Guards' officer lives on in Helmand school -- [Helmand Blog]
His troops vowed to complete the officer's work and soldiers from 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment provided security so local workers could renovate the school, allowing more than 370 pupils to register to attend the new-look facility.
Major Alex Corbet-Burcher, the new Officer Commanding, said:
"The locals were initially cautious about our presence in Basaran, but the atmosphere now is great. I think Sean would be proud of the lads' achievements. It makes us all feel better that some good has come from his sacrifice."

In Country - [Desert Bound - in Afghanistan]
Bitter cold compared to the 100 plus temperatures we've been used to. Everyone is decked in fleeces, hats and sweatpants in the evening. Most of us have good issued cold-weather gear, but if you want to send that hand-knitted sweater to your Soldier, I'm sure he'd enjoy it -- he just might not wear it in public.
...We've been busy here with various patrols/missions. The morale is still low due to basically no connectivity. Phones and MWR computers are still MIA. December is probably when we'll still see something finally show up. You can tell it's bothering a lot of Soldiers, who just want to talk to their spouse and kids.

Fighting The Wrong War -- [Strategy Page]
The enemy in Afghanistan is a many headed beast. American intelligence has compiled a list of nearly 500 Taliban and drug gang leaders. If all these guys were to suddenly disappear, the violence who swiftly change to internal battles within the gangs, as lower level men fought for control of dozens of leaderless Taliban and heroin producing gangs. While you can't destroy the gangs, you can greatly reduce their effectiveness. This is particularly true of the ones that chiefly carry out terror attacks.

Self-Reliance -- [Knights of Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
One of the benefits of my new lodgings is that I'm off by myself, rather than stuck in a dodgy hotel with the dregs of Kabul's transient population.
...for my own peace of mind, I decided that it's best to rely on only myself for personal protection in the middle of the night. Although Kabul is safer than most people think, criminal kidnap is an ever-present threat. The targets of the kidnap gangs are almost always local businessmen, rather than expats, but it never hurts to be prepared.
Hence, my new toy:

Humbled -- [Highland Sailor - in Afghanistan]
Today was the most rewarding day that I can remember.
I had the opportunity to visit a school for the deaf and those with special needs. Words cannot describe the excitement that those children displayed as our group of US and NATO servicemen and women distributed school backpacks containing pens, pencils, paper, and other miscellaneous school supplies. We also distributed blankets, coats, shoes, etc., ...We won't win this war with our tactics or weapon systems. To win this war, we need to put our our soft covers, and meet with the people.

Three Cups of Tea -- [Highland Sailor - in Afghanistan]
If you haven't read "Three Cups of Tea", I strongly recommend that you do so at once. It's required reading for all officers in USFOR-A. It offers a wonderful insight to the Pashto People. Available at your local bookstore or library.

22 Oct 09 -- [Dude in the Desert - in Afghanistan]
today was another long, boring day ...I guess that's a good thing... I can't complain because I would rather be bored than over-worked...I don't really mind it-I mean it doesn't really make sense for so many of us to be here without a real job, but that's the way it goes...it took me a while to learn why this is-the Army had 3-5 times as many people to do the same job the AF was doing...I thought it was ridiculous...I asked a few people and mentioned it to a lot of people and nobody really could explain it...but one day a Sgt in the Army explained that they man their bases/posts/FOBs/whatever according to the number of people it would take to defend that unit and all the assets on that installation...every soldier is a warfighter first and then they are a cook, mechanic, commo guy, or whatever their MOS is...that made it all clear...they might not need 18 mechanics, but they need those 18 warriors to defend against attacks

Afghan troop reduction 'by 2014' -- [BBC]
The head of the British Army, General Sir David Richards, says it will be "about 2014" before UK troops numbers in Afghanistan reduce.
He told the BBC's Caroline Wyatt the war in Afghanistan was "a war very much worth fighting for".

Taliban strike near nuclear facility in Pakistan's Punjab -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Seven people were reported killed and 12 more were wounded after a bomber detonated at a security checkpoint near the Kamra Air Weapon Complex in Attock.

Daily brief: deadly trio of attacks hits Pakistan as anti-Taliban offensive rages -- [AfPak Daily Brief]
A trio of militant attacks in northwest Pakistan killed at least 24 people this morning, as a bus full of wedding-goers struck a roadside bomb in Mohmand agency, a remote control car bomb exploded outside a restaurant in a ritzy area of Peshawar, and a suicide bomber blew himself up during rush hour outside a Pakistani military facility in Kamra, southwest of Islamabad (Dawn, Dawn, Geo TV, Reuters, BBC, AFP, CNN). Some foreign military experts suspect that the aeronautical facility at Kamra stores aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads, though Pakistan denies this and it is unknown whether the attacker, who did not get close to the base itself, intended to strike specifically at the nuclear program (AP, Times of London, Al Jazeera, CNN).

Pakistan fights back - At last, it takes the Taliban seriously -- [Washington Post]
RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN Until a few months ago, Pakistani officials often used the term "miscreants" when they described the Taliban fighters operating from the western tribal areas. This moniker conveyed the sense that the Taliban was a nuisance -- a ragtag band of fanatics and gangsters who could be placated with peace deals -- rather than a mortal threat to the nation. That state of denial appears to be over.

US Aiding Pakistani Military Offensive -- [Los Angeles Times]
The US military is providing intelligence and surveillance video from unmanned aircraft to the Pakistani army to assist in its week-old offensive in South Waziristan, marking the deepest American involvement yet in a Pakistani military campaign, officials said. The assistance includes imagery from armed Predator drones that Defense officials say are being used exclusively for intelligence gathering in the offensive.

Kerry Visit Underscores Power Still Wielded by Pakistani Army -- [Washington Post]
Sen. John F. Kerry briefly swept through the Pakistani capital this week to allay politicians' concerns about a new US aid package that has sparked public outrage. But Pakistani media reports focused on his meeting with the person who seemed to really matter - the army chief. With furor simmering over the conditions attached to the $7.5 billion in development aid, the Massachusetts Democrat's stopover underscored the power the Pakistani military, which has ruled the nation for half its existence, continues to wield in Pakistan's political theater. In this show, the army cast itself as the backroom champion of a proud public - and President Asif Ali Zardari and his civilian government as American stooges.

IRAQ

General in Iraq 'Encouraged' as Elections Approach -- [Defense Link]
Violence in Iraq has dropped to the lowest levels seen since 2003 as the Iraqi people prepare to vote in new legislative and general elections slated for January, a senior US military officer said here today. "I'm encouraged now that violence is at an all-time low; that the levels are down to where they were in 2003," Army Brig. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, Multinational Force Iraq's deputy chief of staff for strategic effects, told reporters during a news briefing at the Washington Foreign Press Center. The reduced violence in Iraq today, Lanza said, indicates "continued improvement in Iraq's security environment, through the combined efforts of Iraq and US forces." The 120,000 US troops now in Iraq "continue to push hard," Lanza said, following the June 30 implementation of a US-Iraq security agreement through which Iraqi security forces took primary responsibility for security within the country's cites. US combat forces today are conducting partnered, full-spectrum operations outside Iraqi cities and also...

American Troops Leaving Iraq, Some Gear Staying -- [War, the military, COIN and stuff]
The American armed forces are due to end their combat mission in Iraq by August 31, 2010, with 50,000 or so troops slated to remain behind to continue training Iraqi forces and presumably offer assistance if the Baghdad government so requests. The Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Iraq calls for all American troops to be out of Iraq by December 31, 2011. That means that over the next ten months, some 70,000 American troops will be leaving Iraq without replacement, and they'll be taking most--but not all--of their gear with them. Michele Flournoy, the Obama administration's Under Secretary of Defense told Congress this week that while the Pentagon says that there are about 3.3 million American "pieces of equipment" in Iraq, and that "the majority of the equipment currently in Iraq will not be transferred to the Iraqis, but will remain with U.S. forces," a significant chunk of gear will stay behind to be used by the Iraqi Security Forces

Counting Backward -- [New York Times]
America's top diplomat in Iraq, Christopher Hill, and America's top commander there, Gen. Ray Odierno, have been wrangling for months over how much United States officials should get involved in Iraqi politics. Mr. Hill, it is said, wants to give the Iraqis more of a chance to find their own way. General Odierno - with his eye on the troop drawdown clock - has been arguing for a more hands-on approach. The stalemate over Iraq's election law should settle that debate once and for all. Iraq's political leaders need a strong shove ahead if there is to be any hope of withdrawing American troops on time and ensuring that the country they leave behind doesn't once again unravel.

Back to Iraq and Answering a Common Question -- [Outside the Wire]
I'm headed back to Iraq in a fews days. Yes, there is still is a war being wrapped up there.
I'll be back with my old friends in the 4th BDE of the 1st ID and the 1-28 Infantry.
I spent a lot of time with the 1-28, the Black Lions, during the surge in 2007. The Black Lions are unit featured in my documentary 'Baghdad Surge.'
I'll be doing two months on this trip then probably heading to Afghanistan

Two Helicopter Rides Today -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
This afternoon I flew on a short mission on Blackhawk helicopter. A film crew was in to shoot pictures for a documentary on the Ziggurat of Ur, just north of our Base. They had an open seat and, better yet, left the side doors of the Blackhawk open so we could see out and down much better. It was also cool to be able to stick my left foot out at 500 feet and hang it out the door opening. I will post pictures tomorrow. They are on a different computer, but I have some good shots of the Ziggurat. That flight was

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Soupy Sales dies at 83 -- [LA Times]
Soupy Sales, a comic with a gift for slapstick who attained cult-like popularity in the 1960s with a pie-throwing routine that became his signature, has died. He was 83.
...World War II did not dampen his showbiz ambitions. He fought in the Pacific theater in the Navy and participated in the invasion of Okinawa but managed to entertain crew mates with routines broadcast on the ship's PA system.
After his discharge, Sales returned to West Virginia and enrolled in Marshall College as a journalism major, earning a bachelor's degree in 1949. He went to work for a radio station in Huntington as a scriptwriter. At night he did stand-up in nightclubs. Soon he became a disc jockey.

Mideast Gain Is Modest, Clinton Tells President -- [New York Times]
On Sept. 22, President Obama summoned the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to an urgent three-way meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York and declared, "It is past time to talk about starting negotiations; it is time to move forward." To that end, he asked both sides to send diplomats to Washington for intensive talks and directed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to report back to him in a month about where things stood. That deadline arrived Thursday, and Mrs. Clinton went to the White House with what several administration officials acknowledge was a meager report: a little progress has been made, they said, but in some respects the atmosphere for talks is actually worse now than it was a month ago.

Israel and Iran Hold First Talks in 30 Years -- [Daily Telegraph]
Israel and Iran have held their first significant meeting in 30 years but the exchanges between the two adversaries quickly descended into acrimony. Officials in Tel Aviv admitted on Thursday that representatives from the two states' nuclear agencies spoke to each other during a disarmament conference in Cairo last month. The surprise encounter, the first that either side has been prepared to admit since the fall of the Shah in 1979, seemed to cause deep embarrassment for both sides.

US-Israel War Games Start as Deadline for Iran to Approve Nuke Deal Draws Near -- [The Times]
The US and Israel launched a major joint military exercise yesterday as a deadline neared for Iran to approve a deal to delay its development of nuclear weapons and prevent Israel from attacking its nuclear facilities. More than 1,000 US troops and 17 US Navy ships joined Israeli forces for a week-long missile defence exercise as it emerged that until recent progress in nuclear talks Israel may have been much closer to ordering a military strike than had been thought. The deal to export much of Iran's uranium to Russia and process it for civilian use should push back Iran's acquisition of its first nuclear bomb by at least a year, analysts believe.

Japan: No Base Decision Soon -- [Washington Post]
The Japanese government said Thursday it would take its time in deciding whether to renege on a military realignment plan involving US bases, despite warnings from the Obama administration that any reversal would spark serious consequences. Officials in Tokyo appeared unfazed by pressure from the US government, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano telling reporters that Japan was unlikely to make its decision before Obama's visit to the country on Nov. 12 and 13. The process could stretch into early 2010, he said. "We can't accept what America is asking for in such a short period of time and say we'll do it just because it is an agreement between Japan and the United States," Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il 'Slaps Down' Son Kim Jong-Un -- [Daily Telegraph]
North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-il has halted a propaganda campaign to promote his youngest son as his successor after Kim Jong-Un began flexing his muscles prematurely, a leading South Korean researcher has claimed. Kim Jong-Un, 25, was named in reports as the ailing dictator's designated successor last June, but relations between father and son have since become strained,

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Did Bush WH torture Gitmo prisoners with R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Sesame Street? Musicians demand records -- [Los Angeles Times]
Torturing detainees with waterboarding is one thing. But now a coalition of musicians is demanding the details of the Bush administration practice of ...

Another former Gitmo detainee killed in a shootout -- [LWJ - Thomas Joscelyn]
Former Guantanamo detainee Yousef Mohammed al Shihri was killed in an Oct. 13 shootout at a checkpoint along the Saudi-Yemeni border. He was reportedly dressed like a woman and planned to commit a suicide attack.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Teen Shares Deployment Experience -- [Family Matters Blog]
Yesterday, I wrote about military children and the profound admiration I have for their strength and resilience. In response, a Marine officer contacted me to share a letter his teenage daughter, Meagan, wrote shortly after he had returned from a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The letter describes how she and her family coped with the long separation. The major and his wife found the letter on the Internet last year. He wrote that the letter is something they "will always cherish," particularly because their daughter passed away in 2006. I was touched by this family's story and impressed by the maturity and wisdom Meagan displayed in her letter. Meagan's letter...

Ranger Tabs -- [Knottie's Niche - Gold Star Mother]
When Micheal was killed I was worried about Fagan. I knew it would hit him hard so I sent him an email. And he did respond but it was clear he was not comfortable talking to me. I reached out a few times but I tried not to push too hard. In February I had to go to Ft. Campbell for a Memorial Dedication and Fagan was assigned to be my driver. I had not met him yet because he came back a few weeks after the rest and wasn't at homecoming. I got a call from one of the other guys telling me Fagan had come back after being told he was to be my driver and asked those who had met me if he should do it or ask to opt out. They assured him it would be ok and I was " cool as hell" He doesn't know the others told me he was nervous about meeting me. And you know I don't blame him really. It takes a lot to face your best friend's grieving mom. When I got to the airport he got hugs and realized immediately I was not as scary as he thought. I think he thought I was going to be all teary and crying. Even harden combat vets have a hard time dealing with a crying woman.

From trauma care to rehab: VA doctors visit Landstuhl -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Dr. Steven Scott, chief of rehabilitation medicine at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Tampa, Fla., has treated countless wounded warriors - some of them over a period of years.

Savannah school supplies "packing party" -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
"Packing party" for school supplies at Colonial Quilts in Savannah for Afghan children
From Liisa, SMSgt Temple's wife: I had a wonderful opportunity to get together with Rex's friend, SPC Christopher "Kit" Lowe, his parents Sandi and Donald and Life Freeman, the mother of fallen Marine hero Captain Matthew Freeman. Here is a link to a video story about our "packing party" that aired in Savannah yesterday.

American Airlines and the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation to Host Seventh Annual Sky Ball Fundraiser -- [Reuters]
American Airlines and the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation to Host Seventh
Annual Sky Ball Fundraiser
Yearly Event Supports North Texas Military Families in Need
Support comes in many forms, including financial aid for deployed families, departure and welcome-home receptions, support for welfare and relief projects ...

MILITARY

Stop lossed? It's pay day -- [FOB Tacoma]
Got stop-lossed and sent back to Iraq or Afghanistan? You've got some cash coming your way.
Well, it's probably a check. But either way, it can be exchanged for goods and services. A provision in the recently passed defense supplemental appropriations bill allows service members who were called back to duty $500 per month.

Defense Budget Raises Military Pay By 3.4 Percent; Allows Gitmo Detainees Into U.S. For Trial -- [AHN]
The Senate on Thursday passed the final version of the 2010 Defense budget, legislation that provides the military with a pay raise

Rethinking the Drone Wars -- [Harpers Magazine]
The predator attack on Mehsud was widely viewed as a major success for the Obama Administration's stepped-up campaign in Pakistan. Mehsud had been, as Mayer notes, public enemy number one for the struggling new Pakistani civilian government. His death was greeted as a triumph for its supporters.
Mayer's piece focuses on the legal debate about the use of predator drones in such circumstances and the high number of civilian casualties this has created. There are,

WELCOME HOME

Brigade returns after year in Iraq -- [Watertown Daily Times]
"Welcome home Mikey!" read the banner, "Mommy loves you!" Taped under the elevated running track of the gymnasium at the post's Magrath Sports Complex,

Families welcome home the 388th -- [StandardNet]
The unit's primary mission was to maintain security and stability in the region by providing close air support for coalition ground troops.

Homecoming set for 158th ANG of Tallassee -- [WSFA]‎
The public is invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony on Sunday and to line the highway route with flags or signs welcoming the troops home.

USS Reagan Returns -- [NBC San Diego]
Among those waiting to welcome home their sailors was a very excited Keri Winslow holding her toddler son. "It's been a lonnng deployment,"

THE MEDIA

Part 3. After War: Writing & Reading -- [The Kitchen Dispatch]
Building upon what Ernest Hemingway said about writing a war story, the first thing to learn is that it doesn't happen in a day. Writing is a craft and there are many forms. It might take a long time for you to get what you envisioned on the page. At times you will be mesmerized, enthralled and also hate the act of writing. This weekend at Blog World Expo, someone mentioned that John Burns of the NY Times had yet to write a book about his experience in Iraq. They weren't sure why the delay, but perhaps I can lend some clarity. A book by John Burns will be well anticipated. He'll not only get the big advance, he'll get the book tour, the Charlie Rose show, print and radio shows (if I'm lucky he'll appear here as well). As I wrote last week Friday, a non-fiction book that goes into print runs between 50,000 - 80,000 words. That's a lot. It's writing full time for as long as it takes. Sometimes it takes a matter of months, for others ...years

It's come to this: White House tries to bar Fox News from interviewing pay czar -- [Hot Air]

POLITICS

Where's Holbrooke? -- [Al Jazeera Blogs]
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke is Obama's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator John Kerry has acted as the senior emissary of the US administration in the three most recent meetings with Hamid Karzai, pressing the President to accept the findings of the Election Complaints Commission.

For Kerry, a Growing Role on Foreign Policy Stage -- [Washington Post]
Five years after his painful loss to George W. Bush, ending a presidential campaign in which he was accused of being an Iraq war defeatist who was too willing to talk to America's adversaries, Sen. John F. Kerry has finally found his place in the foreign policy spotlight. Not only has President Obama advanced many of the Massachusetts Democrat's ideas but Vice President Biden's election vacated for Kerry the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the legislative branch's leading foreign policy pulpit. Kerry's role over the past week in resolving, at least temporarily, the political turmoil in Afghanistan brought him kudos from Obama, who thanked him publicly and called his successful efforts to persuade President Hamid Karzai to accept a runoff election "extraordinarily constructive." It was Kerry - pressed into action by the Obama administration while on an unrelated trip to Afghanistan - who stood by Karzai's side in Kabul on Wednesday when the announcement about the runoff was made. For the first time since 2004, Kerry's face appeared on front pages across the country.

Missile Defense High on Agenda as Biden Tours Central Europe -- [Voice of America]
As Vice President Joe Biden tours Central Europe this week, missile defense is high on the agenda. In Poland on Wednesday, Biden secured an agreement to host US antiballistic missiles after original plans for a defensive missile shield were scrapped. According to the White House, Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Poland Wednesday had nothing to do with placating America's disgruntled allies. But here in Warsaw, people were waiting for only one thing - an assurance that despite scrapping Bush-era plans for an antiballistic missile shield, the US had not turned its back on Central Europe. What Poland got instead is a new missile defense plan. "Standard Missile-3" interceptors will be placed on Polish soil, along with ...

Biden Asks Eastern Europe to Spread Democracy -- [New York Times]
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. used a visit to Romania on Thursday to hail Eastern Europe on all that has been accomplished in the 20 years since the Iron Curtain fell and to challenge the countries of the region to serve as models for other emerging democracies. In a speech at the restored Central University Library, where a raging fire set during Romania's 1989 revolution destroyed 500,000 books, Mr. Biden paid tribute to "freedom's young defenders" who were killed and called the liberation of the old Eastern bloc "one of the greatest achievements in modern history." "Twenty years ago, the world watched in awe and admiration as the men and women throughout this region broke the shackles of repression and emerged a free people,"

Congress passes bill to ease military voting snags -- [AP]
U.S. troops and other American voters overseas will get more time to send in their ballots and more electronic access to voting forms under legislation Congress passed Thursday.
he bill, called the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, aims to remove some of the hurdles that have caused thousands of overseas ballots to be lost or uncounted in past elections. The measure was attached to a $680 billion defense policy bill that the Senate approved Thursday on a 68-29 vote. The bill now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Lawmakers form sixty member caucus for military families -- [Examiner]
What can you expect from the newly formed Military Family Caucus? Employment for spouses and aid for families with special-needs children will be the first issues addressed by the caucus, which officially commences on Nov. 4.
Addressing employment for spouses, especially in economically depressed areas, will be an ongoing challenge. Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, Republican lawmaker from Washington state and spouse to a 26-year Navy veteran, co-chairs the caucus and will surely provide it with invaluable insight born of experience.

Ask AP: Depleted ozone, military VIPs in Congress -- [AP]
Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., served in the Navy for 31 years and rose to the rank of three-star admiral. He is the only three-star officer to be elected to the House, according to the Office of the House Historian.
It's unclear how many military officers with at least one star have served in the House. There does not seem to be an authoritative log, and the Office of the House Historian does not have a comprehensive list. Those elected to the House with at least one star include the late Rep. Sonny Montgomery, D-Miss., who was a two-star officer. Andrew Jackson, also a two-star officer, served in both chambers of Congress.
At least 91 senators, including Jackson, have had at least one star, according to the Senate Historical Office. Sens. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., and Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., were among those who were two-star officers.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

Training the Afghan Security Forces
NATO launched a new organization that brings together all the different groups involved in training the Afghan security forces.

Drinking Tea with the Sergeant Major -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
Today I had my first sit down meeting with my ANA Command Sergeant Major...
The CSM has been in the army for 36 years and 5 of that have been with the reformed ANA army. He graduated from high school and received a bachelor's degree in Logistics from the Soviet Union...

Dealing with the ANA -- [Embedded in Afghanistan...- in Afghanistan]
During my last tour to Afghanistan as an embedded trainer with the Afghan National Army (ANA), I conducted training sessions on the M-16 rifle as part of the ANA's transition from the AK-47 to the M-16. The ANA soldiers had a habit of showing up late for my training sessions. I had tried encouragement, suggestion, and profuse compliments when they were on time as ways to try to get them to show up on time and be more professional, but I had not gotten the results I had hoped for.
Since my efforts to improve the ANA by gently nudging them along were not working to my satisfaction, I decided to try a different approach...

Turks, Frabbits And Azerbaijanis -- [Afghan Quest - in Afghanistan]
Recently Captain Scaribay and I trained three Turkish OMLT's (Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams) at the Turkish Camp Dogan. We had been told that all the Turks could speak and read English, so we sauntered on over to teach a nationality that we had never worked with totally unconcerned with the challenges of language.
Bad intel.

Runoff election announced -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
There was a lot of smog blanketing the city this morning as a result of citizens burning firewood to heat their homes. The mercury has dropped down to the 40's in the morning and late at night. Soon winter will be upon us.

I didn't have to wait long before hearing the metallic thumping of rotors in the distance...

Double Header -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
Yesterday was a full day out and about in Mazar e Sharif. We visited both of the clinics we work with in the area. All told we spent about 3 hours travelling and 3 hours talking. As has become my rule, I did not exercise after wearing the Body Armor for 6 hours yesterday...

Held by the Taliban -- [David Rohde/The New York Times]
In the fall of 2008, David Rohde traveled to Afghanistan to do some reporting for a book about the region. He and two Afghan colleagues were kidnapped by the Taliban and held for seven months.

Video: 33rd IBCT End of Mission Video for TF Phoenix VIII and Fallen Warriors TF Phoenix VIII/33rd IBCT Final Salute -- [CSMBones/Miserable Donuts]
Tell me what you think.

DoD Announces Units For Afghanistan Rotations And Deployment -- [Bouhammer]
The Department of Defense announced today major units scheduled to deploy as part of upcoming rotations of forces operating in Afghanistan. The announcement involves two active duty brigade combat teams totaling 7,700 personnel, and one National Guard brigade with approximately 3,500 personnel. The scheduled rotation for these forces will begin in the spring of 2010.
Specific units receiving deployment orders include...

The wicked game (part two) -- [Greyhawk]
It's admirable that President Obama, a product of the Chicago political machine, can't tolerate dealing with foreign governments tainted by corruption - as Karzai's government most assuredly is. Perhaps in Afghanistan he intends to establish the first government in world history to be free of accusations of criminal activity, greed or abuses of power. Or perhaps reality is close to that described last week, here...

Gates to Press Asia, NATO for More Afghanistan Support -- [Donna Miles/American Forces Press Service]
As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates travels this week to Japan and South Korea before heading to a NATO defense ministers conference in Bratislava, Slovakia, he's expected to ensure the issue of support for Afghanistan remains solidly on front burner.
In a break from the frequent national defense team sessions President Barack Obama has called in recent weeks as he reevaluates the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, Gates will be on the road this week, shoring up long-standing alliances.
But senior defense officials traveling with him confirm that he'll also press for more coalition support at every stop along the way.

Korea Donates Ambulances and Motorcycles to Afghan National Police

U.S. deeply split on troop increase for Afghan war -- [Washington Post]
LESS SUPPORT FOR OBAMA
Majority says nation lacks clear strategy
As President Obama and his war cabinet deliberate a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, Americans are evenly and deeply divided over whether he should send 40,000 more troops there, and public approval of the president's handling of the situation has tumbled, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has recommended the substantial increase in troop strength, and 47 percent of those polled favor the buildup, while 49 percent oppose it. Most on both sides hold their views "strongly."

Shovel Work -- [Jules Crittenden]
Conducting excavations on a Washington Post poll story, "Americans deeply split on troop increase." These are sometimes promising sites, but you have to dig deep. Let's have a look down the hole, see what we can see...
It turns out, while Obama's been dawdling, approval of his handling of Afghanistan plummeted.

Stanley McChrystal's Long War -- [Dexter Filkins / New York Times Magazine]
Success takes time, but how much time does Stanley McChrystal have? The war in Afghanistan is now in its ninth year. The Taliban, measured by the number of their attacks, are stronger than at any time since the Americans toppled their government at the end of 2001. American soldiers and Marines are dying at a faster rate than ever before. Polls in the United States show that opposition to the war is growing steadily.

Is There a Middle Way? -- [Stephen Biddle/The New Republic]
It is easy to see why such middle ways are so popular. They could lighten the burden on the federal deficit. They could put fewer Americans in harm's way. They would seem to better fit the U.S. interests at stake, which are real but limited and indirect. They appeal to the centrism of many American voters. The problem is that they probably won't work.

Afghanistan 2011: Three Scenarios -- [Andrew Exum/Center for a New American Security]
The David Fastabend question -- "How does this end?" -- has been one I have been asking myself in light of the current policy debates on Afghanistan. Accordingly, I sketched out three scenarios -- most dangerous, most likely, most desired -- and tried to imagine how U.S. policy decisions might bring each about...

Pakistan says offensive is gaining ground -- [Karin Brulliard and Haq Nawaz Khan/Washington Post]
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN -- Pakistani soldiers surrounded militant hideouts and seized heavy weapons in the Taliban-riddled hills of South Waziristan on Monday, military officials said.
On the third day of a major ground and air offensive to root out Islamist insurgents, officials said, the army faced pockets of stiff resistance that included rocket fire. But they said they were making progress, killing 18 fighters in a tribal region that Pakistan says is home to plotters of a recent series of deadly domestic assaults. The United States considers South Waziristan a haven for militants attacking international forces in Afghanistan and planning attacks overseas.

Pakistan Targets Mehsud Hometown -- [Wall Street Journal]
Pakistani forces closed in on the hometown of the Pakistan Taliban's leader Monday, pursuing an offensive into the South Waziristan tribal region while swarms of refugees streamed out of the area.
The long-awaited invasion is aimed at dismantling a Taliban mini-state in a region that has become a base for al Qaeda and a magnet for jihadis. U.S. officials have said they are providing surveillance and intelligence feeds to support the effort.
The Waziristan offensive against the Pakistan Taliban, which began over the weekend, has eased a controversy between Islamabad and Washington over a $7.5 billion U.S. aid package.

Taliban retake town from Pakistani Army in South Waziristan -- [Bill Roggio]
The Taliban have stalled the Pakistani Army's advance on one of its three major fronts in South Waziristan and retaken a town captured by the Army just yesterday.
Taliban fighters forced the Army from the town of Kotkai just one day after the military said it was secured. The Taliban claimed the Army took heavy casualties as it was ejected from Kotkai...
Kotkai is the home town of Hakeemullah Mehsud, the leader of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, and Qari Hussain Mehsud, Hakeemullah's senior lieutenant and trainer of suicide bombers.

US airstrike targets al Qaeda in North Waziristan -- [Bill Roggio/Long War Journal]
US aircraft have struck at al Qaeda in Pakistan's lawless, Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan.
Unmanned aircraft, likely Predators or Reapers, operated by the US targeted a compound run by al Qaeda operatives in the village of Spalaga in the Mir Ali region. Pakistani intelligence officials put the number killed at three. No senior Taliban, al Qaeda, or allied terror group leaders have been reported killed.

Pakistan Continues Waziristan Offensive, Closes Schools -- [Voice of America]
Pakistani helicopter gunships attacked Taliban strongholds near the Afghan border Wednesday on the fifth day of an offensive in the tribal region of South Waziristan...
In the rest of the country, authorities closed many schools a day after two suicide bombers attacked the International Islamic University in Islamabad, killing four people at a faculty building and a women's cafeteria.

IRAQ

More on Mike and his Marines -- [Castra Praetoria - in Iraq]
Janna, a wife of a 3/3 Marine, gave me this heads up.
NEW DELHI (AP) -- Indian authorities forced a U.S. plane carrying Marines to land in Mumbai today after confusion about its call sign.
A U.S. Embassy official said the plane was later allowed to resume its journey. He said the Bangkok-bound flight was diverted while in Indian airspace.

Home -- [Castra Praetoria - in Iraq]
According to a news station in Hawaii, America's Battalion touched down in Oahu at about 1130 this morning.
Here's the link.
Looks like they are home.

Exiting Iraq ends mission veiled in ambivalence -- [Hamza Hendawi/Associated Press]
Since January, AP correspondent Hamza Hendawi has embedded at regular intervals with a U.S. infantry company in Baghdad to gauge how the military mission in Iraq is changing. Here, Hendawi accompanies the unit on its journey back to the United States.

Violence threatens Barack Obama's pledge to pull troops out of Iraq -- [Times Online]
President Obama's pledge to withdraw US troops from Iraq and end combat operations there by September 2010 is under threat because of increased levels of violence and bickering within the Iraqi parliament, the top US general in the country has told The Times.
General Ray Odierno said that militant groups were likely to conduct a bloody campaign in the months ahead, as Iraqis prepare for national elections at the beginning of next year.

Election law stalls in Iraqi parliament -- [Washington Post]
The Iraqi parliament failed for a second time Monday to vote on an election law crucial for organizing elections in January that will choose a new parliament and serve as a milestone in American plans to withdraw combat troops from the country.

Army Cancels Brigade's Iraq Deployment -- [Defense News]
An Army brigade slated to deploy to Iraq in January was relieved of its deployment orders this weekend without current plans for a new mission, Pentagon and Army officials said here today.
The 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team was off-ramped by Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, because of the improved security situation there, and not to bolster forces in Afghanistan, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.

As Iraqi election worries mount, State and DoD dispute U.S. role -- [Josh Rogin/The Cable (Foreign Policy)]
Much ado was made last month about the reported rift between U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Chris Hill and the top U.S. military commander in Baghdad Gen. Ray Odierno, a rift that Hill strenuously denied.
But a real policy dispute lies at the heart of the story, senior diplomatic and military sources in Baghdad tell The Cable. Increasingly, the two men are said to differ over the proper American role in Baghdad, specifically with regard to how heavy a hand the U.S. should apply in trying to influence the decisions of the Iraqi government led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki...
"Odierno continues to believe that the Sunni community depends on the U.S. to defend them against the Maliki government," said one Washington Iraq expert. "State doesn't believe that the U.S. military should play a significant role in any of that."

Obama: US Combat Troops Out of Iraq By Next August -- [Voice of America]
U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States still plans to remove all its combat troops from Iraq by next August.

Obama, Maliki Move Beyond Security Issues -- [Defense News]
The importance of holding the Iraqi elections on time in January and furthering Iraqi-U.S. economic ties were at the center of discussions between President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the White House today.
In a demonstration of how far the mission in Iraq has come, the first minutes of the leaders' media availability after their meeting concerned Afghanistan - something that would have been inconceivable two years ago.

Now taking requests... -- [Blogs Over Baghdad - in Iraq]
For the past 10 months and change, this blog was a lot like the old TV series "Outer Limits" -- we (the Soldiers of the 314th PAOC) have controlled the vertical and horizontal, etc. Well, that has all changed -- at least for the next few days.
Until Friday, our faithful blog readers are going to be in control. You tell us what you want to see (I've got my point-and-shoot camera ready to snap) or what you want to read (got the pen and paper ready, too).
Send your requests to this blog entry as a comment, and we will do our best as long as it does not violate the four forbidden government topics -- security (can't violate national security concerns), accuracy (has to be truthful), propriety (can't be inappropriate), and policy (can't go against government rules).
This might be your last chance, so go on....make your request!

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Gates says US won't accept nuclear North Korea -- [Associated Press/Stars and Stripes]
Top American defense officials maintained a tough stand Wednesday against North Korea, calling its threat more lethal than ever even as an envoy from the communist regime was headed to the United States to discuss nuclear programs.

Gates, Willard Seek More Engagement With China -- [Defense News]
It's in the United States' long-term interest to engage more closely with China, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today, and his new top officer in the Pacific said he's looking forward to the role he hopes to play in the dialogue.

Taiwan Says China's Military Buildup Undermines New Ties -- [Wall Street Journal]
China is capable of deterring foreign militaries from assisting Taiwan if the two sides were to go to war, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said in a report that highlights the continued buildup of Beijing's military toward the island despite rapidly improving political and commercial ties.

Biden sent to soothe Europe on Russia overtures -- [Washington Times]
WARSAW | Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. arrived here Tuesday on the first leg of a delicate diplomatic repair mission that follows the Obama administration's abrupt reversal on missile defense, a decision that rekindled deep-seated unease in a region where the U.S. is seen as the only reliable counterweight to a potentially menacing Russian neighbor.
By visiting with top Polish, Czech and Romanian officials this week, the vice president is hoping to reassure the three NATO allies that the United States remains deeply committed to their security.

U.S. Missile Shield Won't Expand to Non-NATO Countries, Official Says -- [Wall Street Journal]
The United States does not intend to put any part of its revised missile shield in non-NATO countries, a senior defense official said in Georgia Tuesday, in an apparent attempt to calm Russian nerves.
Amid its so-called resetting of relations with Russia, Washington said in September it was scrapping a Bush administration plan to build a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Moscow, which had protested that plan as a potential threat to its nuclear arsenal, rejoiced at the decision.
But later reports that the U.S. was considering placing early warning radar systems in Ukraine provoked an angry reaction from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

US to give Mali equipment for military forces -- [AP]
BAMAKO, Mali -- The United States is providing security forces in the West African nation of Mali with more than $5 million in new vehicles and other equipment.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Attackers Kill 6 at Islamic University in Pakistan, Mystifying Students -- [Salman Masood]
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The International Islamic University here, one of the country's premier schools, prides itself as a unique center of learning that combines "the essentials of the Islamic faith with the best of modern knowledge," as its Web site says.
So on Tuesday afternoon, when two suicide attackers struck this conservative gender-segregated campus simultaneously, killing six people, many of the students and residents of Islamabad were perplexed.

Iran makes arrests over bombing, Pakistan vows help -- [Washington Post]
Iran has made arrests in connection with Sunday's suicide bombing that killed dozens of people near the border with Pakistan, it said on Wednesday.
Pakistan said it would help its neighbor hunt down the culprits. Iran, a mainly Shi'ite Muslim country, says the Sunni rebel group which claimed responsibility for the suicide attack operates out of Pakistan.

Justices to Decide on U.S. Release of Detainees -- [Adam Liptak/New York Times]
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to decide whether federal courts have the power to order prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay to be released into the United States.
The court's decision to hear the case adds a further complication to the Obama administration's efforts to close the prison at the naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. A measure in Congress that would allow detainees to be admitted to the United States just to face trial had to overcome strong resistance before winning final passage on Tuesday. The administration has met with only fitful success in persuading foreign allies to accept prisoners cleared for release.

One step closer to bringing Gitmo circus to U.S. soil -- [Michelle Malkin]
Attorney General Eric Holder's old pals at Gitmo detainee-repping Covington & Burlington give this latest news two thumbs up. Way up...

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Update on COP Keating Battle and Relief Fund -- [The Burn Pit - American Legion Blog]
INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 21, 2009) -- In less than a week, an American Legion blog site raised more than $50,000, which Target matched with an additional $50,000 contribution, to help U.S. soldiers who were forced to destroy their camp and all of their possessions during a deadly Oct. 3 enemy attack in Afghanistan. In addition, Connecticut-based Computer Sciences Corporation has donated 56 laptop computers to the relief effort to replace those that were destroyed.

Savannah school supplies "packing party" -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
From Liisa, SMSgt Temple's wife: I had a wonderful opportunity to get together with Rex's friend, SPC Christopher "Kit" Lowe, his parents Sandi and Donald and Life Freeman, the mother of fallen Marine hero Captain Matthew Freeman. Here is a link to a video story about our "packing party" that aired in Savannah yesterday.

An amazing end to an amazing week - [Chuck Z]
After the show, we went up to meet Matt and thank him for the invitation. I shook his hand and I gave him my Soldier'sAngels Valour-IT coin that I've carried everywhere. In a side conversation, Toby explained how much that coin meant to me. Then Matt Goss did someting absolutely touching and deeply appreciated...

Sy Hersh: Military 'In War Against The White House' -- [Susie Madrak/Crooks and Liars]
So many of the saner people were driven out of the military during the Bush administration, it doesn't surprise me that the people left include a lot of the right-wing, racist fringe elements. Still, it's shocking to hear this...

Postal Service announces deadlines for Christmas mailing to military overseas -- [Greeley Tribune]
DENVER -- The US Postal Service has announced recommended mailing dates for delivery by Christmas to military troops serving overseas at APO/FPO addresses.

MILITARY

Military trains in Oklahoma for terrorist attack -- [Chicago Tribune]
About 500 military personnel are in eastern Oklahoma to train for their response to a terrorist attack. The service members gathered Tuesday at the Oklahoma National Guard's Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs for the two-day exercise. They are simulating an attack on an international health summit.

US, East African Nations Begin Major Military Exercise -- [Voice of America]
More than 1,200 military personnel from the United States, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda are involved in the 10-day exercise that began Friday.
According to a spokesman for the U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany, Dan La Pierre, the exercise, dubbed "Natural Fire 10," is focused on training that will enhance capabilities needed for humanitarian and civic assistance, disaster relief, and regional security.

Padang Update

WELCOME HOME

Three times each week, Wounded Warriors are welcomed home at Andrews AFB after medevac flight from Germany -- [MaryAnn/Soldiers' Angels Germany]
An informative and heartwarming story about the arrival of our Wounded Warriors at Andrews AFB after medevac from Germany. It will make you proud of each and every member of this team.

IN MEMORIAM

Generations of Valor -- [Anne Morse/NRO]
Mike Rudzinski, is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the son of a Vietnam vet, and the father of Chris Rudzinski, who served in the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq. His son's time in the sand "was much more perilous than mine," Rudzinski wrote. When asked why so many sons of Vietnam veterans saw their sons volunteer for service in Iraq, Rudzinski replied "I believe Chris joined because he loved his country and he loved his family and he wanted to do something for both. I'd like to think that my dad and I were an inspiration to Chris: after all, my dad was the inspiration for me to join.."

Fort Stewart soldier killed in Afghanistan -- [Savannah Morning News]
The Department of Defense announced Sunday the death of a Fort Stewart soldier killed while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Christopher M. Rudzinski, 28, of Rantoul, Ill., died Oct. 16 near Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
He was assigned to 293rd Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), Fort Stewart.

Chris was a fine man, whom I'd wish I'd known -- [Chuck Z]
Matt Burden (Blackfive) was feeling all kinds of happy in Las Vegas until he received a text from his friend, Mike. The news was not good.

Godspeed, Sergeant Chris Rudzinski -- [Blackfive]
I was sitting in McCarran airport in Las Vegas looking forward to coming home when I received word that Chris Rudzinski, on his fourth tour, was killed by an IED in Afghanistan.
Chris's father Mike has been with us at Blackfive since 2003 and comments on blogs as "Annoying Mike". Mike is a Colonel and the son of a viet nam vet, and Mike has another son in the military.

my heart in 1000 pieces -- [Mike Rudzinski]
I don't have the details yet on Chris' death. I was told it was an IED. Chris is my oldest son, 28 years old and a father for his little boy Ryan and husband to Caroline, his wife. I have attached a picture of Chris and Ryan, who turned one year old last month while his daddy was in Afghanistan. The picture was taken on the day of his departure.

through the clouds...... -- [Mike Rudzinski]
I hope you don't mind me writing you and updating you on Chris' return home. I'm not sure I can cry any more tears and remain strong for my family too without talking with somebody. My head is in a spin and my heart aches as we start the process of bringing Chris home. Today Natalie, Caroline, Ryan and I were flown to Dover Air Force Base to witness the dignified transfer ceremony. It is the ceremony where our men and women in uniform take heroes and render honors as they return to American soil. I've had to do some difficult tasks in my life and Army career, but I have to say that standing there in the rain and cold and watching our military men and women take loving care of my son, like they have with the thousands who have preceded him was about too much to bear. It was too much for Caroline, she collapsed at seeing her beloved husband and Ryan's daddy, in a flag draped transfer case, being unloaded from the plane and put into the van which has taken Chris to the mortuary unit to prepare him for his trip home...
But I thought you should also know about the other heroes we ran into today, because they made my heart swell with love and pride, even as it was breaking.

THE MEDIA

Tapper to Gibbs: Who are you to decide what constitutes a news organization? -- [Hot Air]
Sheer comedy gold from one of the most honest White House correspondents in the business. Jake Tapper used his time in the Briefing Room to challenge Robert Gibbs on the Obama administration's attempts to brand Fox News as something other than a news organization. Gibbs sputters but never answers Tapper's essential question...

Attack on Fox News right out of Alinsky playbook -- [Donald Sensing]
FoxNews Channel is not the real target, and the rest of the media need to wake up to the crosshairs on them, too.

Seymour Hersh: military hates Obama because they're racists and he's black -- [Greyhawk]
The army is also "in a war against the White House -- and they feel they have [President] Obama boxed in," Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Seymour Hersh told several hundred people in Duke University's Page Auditorium on Tuesday night. "They think he's weak and the wrong color. Yes, there's racism in the Pentagon. We may not like to think that, but it's true and we all know it."
Hersh is so far off the mark here it would be astounding - if this were anyone other than Seymour Hersh.

POLITICS

As the Commander in Chief Deliberates, Frustration Builds Within the Ranks -- [Elisabeth Bumiller/New York Times]
But now, after nearly a month of deliberations by Mr. Obama over whether to send more American troops to Afghanistan, frustrations and anxiety are on the rise within the military.

U.S. decision can't wait for Afghan legitimacy: Gates -- [Reuters]
The United States cannot wait for problems surrounding the legitimacy of the Afghan government to be resolved before making a decision on troops, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said.

Obama urges GOP to 'get a mop' and clean up Bush administration mess -- [The Hill]
Obama, speaking to donors to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), said he didn't have sympathy for those "sitting on the sidelines and rooting for failure."
He then embraced a new campaign by the DNC that invites Republicans to "grab a mop" and help clean up what Democrats say is a mess created by the Bush administration.
"I don't mind cleaning up the mess that some other folks made, that's what I signed up to do," Obama said. "But while I'm there mopping the floor I don't want someone saying 'You're not mopping fast enough or you're not holding the mop the right way.' Grab a mop! Why don't you help clean up?"

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

AFGHANISTAN / PAKISTAN

Decision on Afghan Troops May Wait -- [NY Times]
The White House signaled Sunday that President Obama would postpone any decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan until the disputed election there had been settled and resulted in a government that could work with the United States.

White House Seeks to Explain its Hesitations on Afghanistan -- [The Times]
The White House has issued its strongest warning yet that President Karzai cannot count on continued US support if he fails to accept that Afghanistan's fraudulent election has critically undermined his authority. President Obama was said yesterday to be more concerned at "whether there's an Afghan partner" worth defending than with the politically fraught question of how many more troops to send, according to Rahm Emanuel, Mr Obama's chief of staff and a central figure in White House deliberations on Afghanistan. His rare public remarks were echoed by comments from Senator John Kerry, who has flown to Kabul to join efforts to persuade Mr Karzai to either accept a second round of voting or enter a power-sharing deal with his opponent, Dr Abdullah Abdullah. The Karzai campaign has said it will not negotiate unless the incumbent is declared the outright winner of the August election.

The Ten-Percent Solution -- [Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
If generals rise and fall by how they handle the "irrational tenth" of tactics, then the strategic test of statesmen is surely their capacity to stumble to success amidst even greater uncertainty. And, with respect to Afghanistan, greater uncertainty is all we have at the moment, despite a strategic pause that has allowed American and European bloviators to take their best shots at the issue for more than a month. Vast chunks of media real estate have been devoted to Af-Pak policy, but ...

Get Nasty or Go Home -- [Foreign Policy]
The go-light strategy in Afghanistan is a joke. If Obama's serious about victory, it's time to start making unpleasant choices.

An Intermediate Option -- [Washington Times]
Many ideas for "intermediate options" for Afghanistan are gaining momentum in the Washington debate. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal's request for tens of thousands of additional NATO (meaning US) troops stands at one extreme, and a return to the minimalist counterterrorism strategy associated with former Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld stands at the other. Those uncomfortable with both are proposing alternatives. The motivations for such intermediate options are understandable. But in fact, most of the ideas are already inherent in the new concepts that Gen. McChrystal, supported by US Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry, have brought to the mission since their arrival in the spring. They are not alternatives to current strategy; they are elements of it. One intermediate option is...

Diplomats Urge Karzai to Accept Election Results -- [Voice of America]
Global pressure continues to mount Sunday on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to accept a possible runoff in Afghanistan's disputed election. Senior foreign officials have urged Mr. Karzai to accept the findings of a fraud investigation by a UN-backed panel that could decide whether the nation's disputed election goes to a runoff. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, US Senator John Kerry and former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met with Mr. Karzai in Kabul Saturday ahead of the long-delayed announcement by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC). Senator Kerry said, in an interview with CNN, it would be irresponsible for the United States to send more troops to Afghanistan when the outcome of the Afghan election is not clear.

Tour of ANA land and elections runoff update -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
...Election runoff update: According to today's local paper, the number of votes cast for President Karzai has slipped to 47%. Because the presidential share of vote has come under the constitutionally mandated 50%, a runoff election will occur. Note: This outcome was based on analyzing about 10 percent of the cast ballots. I've read about unofficial reports alleging 30 percent of the votes cast for Karzai were fraudulent. In fact, I recently learned about a tactic employed by Karzai supporters that was not mentioned by the media. Karzai supporters took advantage of illiterate people. These voters intended to cast a vote for rival challenger Abdullah Abdullah. However, they were informed they would have to travel to the city of Kabul to fill out other paperwork. Furthermore, that this voting station was only for Karzai voters. Since Afghans really value the right to vote, citizens voted for Karzai because they didn't have the money to visit the city. But the truth is all of the candidates and pictures of them are on the presidential ballot. In addition...

The Runoff -- [The Canada-Afghanistan Blog]
It looks like Afghanistan is heading for a runoff election between Karzai and Abdullah. This is a good thing, I think. A runoff will mean we have to wait longer to know who the President will be, it will be expensive, it will take up a lot of ISAF and ASF capacity, and it is not guaranteed to be any freer of fraud. I'm on the side of those who argue that the Afghan government must have a legitimate mandate from the people of the country in order to rule effectively--and in order to make it absolutely clear that this is a struggle between democracy and theocracy, and not simply a battle of warlords as the cynics see it.

Start and Stop -- [OPFOR - Lt Col P - in Afghanistan]
We have here a conundrum: sorting out the clear and fair winner of an election, according to the law, is of course the proper thing to do. However, we also need to recognize the practical consequences and understand what is probably going to happen in the interim. In my view, the runoff is going to put the brakes temporarily on strategic progress. The loss of time and momentum will, we hope, be worth the tradeoff if the process and the result is seen as putting a lid on an open question. In another country, the stability of institutions would be enough to carry the people through the period of uncertainty; here, it don't work that way. Not yet. Also...

Introduction to ANA colonel -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
This morning after our daily ETT meeting, we met with our interpreters and walked about ½ mile to ANA land. The plan was to meet the ANA colonel and then be introduced to his staff of officers. Before we had a chance to meet and greet, the colonel whisked away our team leader to attend a Brigade staff meeting. The rest of the ETT team...

On Mentoring -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
Todays discussion is on and about mentoring.
You can make recommendations or suggestions, but these work best if you bring them into a conversation and ultimately make them seem like your mentees idea. You have to allow them to come up with their own ideas and occasionally, although not catastrophically fail. That is the biggest hurdle I have seen here. It is difficult for us as Americans to allow anything to fail at any level. There are many 'mentors' here who simply will not allow their mentees to fail at all. I still remember in training at Ft Riley they stressed time and again that even a mediocre Afghan plan is still better than the best American plan.

Pay to Play -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
As the cool weather finally moves into Afghanistan I have to tell you that from my perspective not much is happening. I am not talking about security incidents - they almost doubled last week from a near all time high the week before. There is lots of villianary going on - the weather is perfect for it - but nothing seems to be really changing. One gets the impression that the players from all sides want to maintain the current status quo because all the sides are benefiting.

Hero -- [Afghan Quest - in Afghanistan]
Recently, an email came in from an officer who quoted an ANP chief in a district in which I did some work as a mentor. The ANP chief said that he was looking forward to winter so that the leaves on the trees could no longer the Taliban and he could kill them all. Fair's fair, after all. They've repeatedly tried to kill him.

The Case for Humility in Afghanistan -- [Foreign Policy/ Af-Pak Channel]
A Taliban victory would have devastating consequences for U.S. interests. But to avoid disaster, America must beware the Soviet Union's mistakes -- and learn from its own three decades of failure in South Asia.

The Pull of The Taliban -- [Bouhammer]
I've been one of the select few who have stood in the rubble at Ground Zero amid the aftermath of 9/11 and stood and fought in Taliban controlled territory in southeastern Afghanistan. Having been in these positions I've been able to deeply reflect on these situations. Shortly after 9/11, our country had the support from most of the world as we went into Afghanistan and did what we had to do. Upon doing so we made a lot of promises to the Afghan people, however as you all know, our country's military focus soon shifted to Iraq. The Afghan people are the most patient group of people I have ever met.

Road project connecting villages in Nuristan Province -- [ISAF]
19 Oct. - NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team attended the ground breaking ceremony of a fourteen mile (24 km) road connecting the villages of Gondalabuk and Doab in the Nurgram district,...

Hash -- [Embedded in Afghanistan...- in Afghanistan]
Drug cultivation was not something we really dealt with in Kunar. When it comes to illegal trade funding illegal activity, Kunar is more known for the timber trade...you might say the situation with the opium in the south is analogous to the timber in the northeast mountainous provinces. Undoubtedly, some opium is cultivated in the mountainous regions, but it wasn't something we really saw or dealt with.
What we did deal with regularly was hashish smoking among the ANA.

"Life in Pain" - A story from the medical front line in Afghanistan -- [A World of Troubles - in Afghanistan]
"Attention on the FOB, Attention on the FOB, Shamrock Red, Shamrock Red," a voice calls over the loudspeakers on Forward Operating Base Salerno. "Shamrock Red" means one patient is inbound for the hospital any minute now. It commands medical personnel to return to their stations immediately. The trauma bay is a broad corridor lined with medical supply lockers, computers and X-Ray equipment. Four examination tables are lined up diagonally in the corridor, each one with different color markings on the floor, corresponding to the call signs.

Morality ends.... -- [There's sand in my... - in Afghanistan]
When does morality end and reality start? That was a big discussion between some of the newbies and us. I am of the firm stance that the "detainees" are pieces of you know what and they should be treated that way. Of course that got the attention of a lot of the people around me and I was immediately blasted by them stating that deep down inside they are people also. Obviously they have not seen the carnage that we have been exposed to thus far caused directly by the "detainees who are people deep down inside", we'll see how their attitude is about halfway through their deployment. I've been in many cases where a coalition fighter has passed due to the piece of crap that is sitting in the trauma bay awaiting treatment. Don't get me wrong, I will do everything humanely possible to save a life and have done so, no matter who's it is,...

A great meal... -- [3rd Time, New Country - in Afghanistan]
Another week in Kabul has been completed. It has been a typical week, but only out on the road once since I last posted and that was too NDS. We did roll through where the last SVBIED tried to take out the Indian Embassy. It never ceases to amaze me as to the amount of destruction explosives packed into an SUV can do. . .
One of the big accomplishments this week was...

Questions About Al Qaeda's Next Move -- [Los Angeles Times]
The plot for the Sept. 11 attacks was set in motion in late 1999 from a cluster of Al Qaeda training camps near Kandahar. In those dusty Afghan compounds, Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants signed off on the plan, set up a special training program, and selected lead members of the hijack team. Ten years later, could Al Qaeda return to Afghanistan and use it again as a launching pad for terrorist strikes? The question has taken on heightened urgency as the Obama administration searches for a new war strategy, and Pakistan carries out its first major military offensive in the tribal region that Al Qaeda has called home since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. The issue is also a source of surprising disagreement within the counter-terrorism community. Some are skeptical that Al Qaeda would return to Afghanistan, even in the event of a substantial US military drawdown. Doing so would mean...

Pakistan Troops Battle Militants in South Waziristan -- [Voice of America]
Pakistani forces exchanged heavy fire on Sunday with militants defending their heartland in the mountains of the South Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Pakistani troops, backed by fighter jets, continue to advance into the main sanctuary of militants, on the second day of a full-scale ground offensive against Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents. Officials say 60 militants and five Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the first 24 hours of the operation.

Pakistan Claims Gain In Offensive On Taliban -- [Wall Street Journal]
Pakistan soldiers moved to try to encircle Taliban and al Qaeda militants in the South Waziristan mountains near the Afghan border, in a high-stakes offensive aimed at crushing the insurgency in its toughest stronghold. Military reports Sunday indicated soldiers, whose offensive began before dawn Saturday, were making advances amid stout resistance. Some 30,000 Pakistani soldiers were moving into the area from three directions to face as many as 10,000 Pakistani and foreign militants, many of them veterans of battles in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were said to be fleeing South Waziristan to neighboring areas.

Taliban Resists Major Assault by Pakistan -- [The Australian]
Pakistani troops pounded Taliban forces for a second day yesterday in the lawless South Waziristan tribal area as reports emerged that as many as 12,000 local and foreign militants were fiercely resisting the long-awaited ground offensive. As many as 28,000 soldiers have flooded the South Waziristan tribal agency in recent days, sealing off the Taliban stronghold in the central west of the Mehsud clan-dominated region, away from the Afghanistan border, and seizing several Taliban bases. Officials said yesterday the military had established checkpoints on all fronts to prevent militants spilling over the porous Pakistan-Afghan border or north into the bordering North Waziristan agency, dominated by the Wazir tribe. "The operation will continue until the objectives are achieved. The army has blocked all entry and exit points of Waziristan," Major General Athar Abbas said. The military operation in South Waziristan follows repeated requests from the US to eliminate Taliban and al-Qa'ida safe havens within Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas that now serve as the launching pad for attacks on coalition forces in Afghanistan and terrorist plots against the West.

Air Force career field in need: Service taking steps to address shortage, but it will take time -- [Stars&Stripes]
An Air Force joint terminal attack controllers, working for an Army Special Forces team, helps conduct Operation Ice Axe in Nuristan province, Afghanistan. He helped coordinate the distribution of supplies from Afghan soldiers to villagers. GRAFENWÖHR, Germany -- The Air Force is facing a critical shortage of joint terminal attack controllers, a position vital to reducing the number of civilians killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan -- one of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's keys to turning around the war there.

IRAQ

Awakening Leader's Tale Illustrates Iraq's Volatility -- [Los Angeles Times]
The Sunni Muslim paramilitary leader's campaign slogan holds the promise of imminent rescue: "Hold on, we are coming." But the aspiring parliamentary candidate, Mustafa Kamal Shibeeb, may not be in a position to deliver on his slogan: He's a fugitive, with murder charges hanging over his head from events at the height of the US troop buildup two years ago. Already, police commandos have tried to grab him twice, only to be blocked by an Iraqi army unit, with tacit support from US forces. Shibeeb's story reveals the volatility of today's Iraq, where Sunni-Shiite tensions are just one of the conflicts at play. His vulnerability illustrates how the Iraqi government and security forces remain subject to competing political and tribal pressures, and score-settling, that risk igniting new violence. If Shibeeb is jailed, it could...

Seeking consensus in Iraq's divided North -- [Stars & Stripes]
Capt. Michael Schmidt stepped on a cultural land mine during a recent meeting with Iraqi military commanders aimed at easing ethnic tensions in Iraq's disputed north.
"The No. 1 threat is the Sunni insurgency," Schmidt said in response to an Iraqi commander's question about the most pressing security concern for northern Diyala province.
"When you say the Sunni insurgency, you are associating all Sunnis," sniffed Col. Khamees Sulaiman Raja Ahmed, the local Iraqi army commander, himself a Sunni.

Leaving a mark on Iraq -- [Blogs Over Baghdad - in Iraq]
As the 314th PAOC prepares for its departure from Iraq, we felt we could not return home without leaving something behind. Thankfully, we traveled here with a unit filled with gifted artists, and they collectively took up that challenge.

I Can't Complain -- [Blogs Over Baghdad - in Iraq]
Today, one of our interpreters came into my office and asked how I was. I gave the stock answer: "I can't complain." The truth is that I am often seen mumbling under my breath about something that irks me. After he left, however, I thought about my statement, and some of the things that have happened here in Baghdad over the past few months, and how insignificant my troubles seem in comparison to the events that are affecting people like these: - One of custod