IRAQ

Report: Al-Qaeda Operatives Who Infiltrated Into Iraq From Syria Kill 11 Policemen -- [MERMI Blog]
U.S. and Iraqi sources reported that Al-Qaeda operatives who infiltrated into Iraq from Syria had penetrated a settlement in the Al-Anbar province and attacked the homes of 11 policemen, killing all 11 as well as the son of one of the policemen.
It was reported that the infiltrators wore U.S. military uniforms and that one, a Lebanese, was caught on his way back to Syria.

Iraqi Army captures Special Groups cell leader in Husayniyah -- [MNF-I]
Iraqi Army captures Special Groups cell leader in Husayniyah
BALAD, Iraq – The Iraqi Army captured a mid-level Special Groups cell leader in Husayniyah, responsible for coordinating improvised explosive device, rocket and smallarms fire attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces, approximately 30 km north of Baghdad, May 15.
Iraqi Army soldiers conducted the operation to capture the Special Groups cell leader whose cell conducted attacks against the ISF and CF as recent as April 22.
These criminals emplaced explosively-formed penetrators and conducted indirect fire attacks against static Coalition force positions. Three additional suspects were detained.
“The capture of this cell leader will likely affect the ability of Special Groups criminals in Husayniyah to conduct attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces,” said Col. Bill Buckner, MNC-I spokesman. “This will prevent Special Groups leadership from exploiting the city as a safe haven.”

Ouch! Iraq Vows It Will Not Become Another Lebanon -- [Gateway Pundit]
Talk about a sucker punch? That has got to hurt.
The Iraqi foreign minister said that Iraq would not allow formation of a state within a state.
...In other good news from Iraq...
The US announced that it is planning on turning Al-Anbar Province over to the Iraqis in June.
This is amazing news considering the sprawling province was once believed lost to the insurgency.

Attacks decrease in Sadr City; fighting shifts to western Baghdad -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The Mahdi Army continues to strike in Sadr City, but the intensity of the attacks has decreased significantly. Fighting may be shifting westward.
...The US and Iraqi military has insisted the Special Groups - the Iranian-armed and trained factions of the Mahdi Army - and not the Mahdi Army itself, are behind the attacks in Sadr City. But the lifting of the weapons and the reduction in attacks in Sadr City suggests otherwise. The Special Groups appear to be abiding by Sadr's order for a cease-fire to some degree.

Letters from Iraq: Testing Sadr's control -- [ISN Security Watch]
The recent ceasefire between Moqtada al-Sadr and the Iraqi government is fragile at best, and shows that some fighters are outside al-Sadr's control, Anna Badkhen writes from Baghdad for ISN Security Watch.
...Moqtada al-Sadr may have negotiated a fragile ceasefire with the Iraqi government after several weeks of street fighting in northern Baghdad, but in this part of the city, Shiite fighters who loosely associate themselves with Sadr's Mahdi Army militia couldn't care less.
"My intelligence tells me that they are Jaish al-Mahdi special groups," said US Army Captain Andrew Betson, the commander of the outpost in Saidiyah, using the Arabic name for Sadr's militia and the American military term for Shiite militants that are believed to have splintered off from the mainstream.
"I do not believe that they are mainstream Jaish al-Mahdi," he said. "At least they believe that they don't have to abide by the ceasefire."
American government and military officials say the ceasefire is a test of how much control Sadr has over Shiite fighters who have been at the forefront of violence against coalition troops, Iraqi government forces and Sunni Iraqis. Sadr has demonstrated the ability to rally tens of thousands of fighters to battle and to order them to stop fighting.

Baghdad Patrol - Sadr City

In Pictures: From Rusafa to Sadr City -- [LWJ - Bill Ardolino - in Iraq]
Click image to view slideshow. To remove the text in the images, click 'hide captions'.
The 3rd Squadron of the 89th Cavalry conducts operations across central and northeast Baghdad: from the Tigris River, to downtown, to residential areas in northern Rusafa District, to the edge of conflict areas in Sadr City. The 3-89 Cav's missions include force protection of Iraqi Police Stations, day and night mounted and dismounted patrols, and raids on suspected Mahdi Army roadside bomb and weapons caches.

Iraq News (16 May) -- [Lt Nixon - in Iraq]
The Good: A Iraqi Parliament member has claimed that national reconciliation has taken place amongst quarreling blocs, which is a way to convince investors in Egypt to bring in more money. Arab investors have been sluggish to invest in Iraq due to security issues and perceived corruption within the Iraqi government. However, Iraq doesn't have any trouble bringing in money from religious tourists to its holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.

General Cites Iranian Links to ‘Special Groups’ Terrorists in Iraq -- [MNF-I]
So-called “special groups” terrorists operating in Iraq apparently are receiving training, arms and funding from Iranian sources, a senior U.S. military official posted in Iraq said May 14.
“Over the course of the last several months, we have publicly discussed numerous times, and shown numerous times, the evidence on four separate occasions on what we have found and continue to find: Iranian-made weapons in the hands of criminals in Iraq,” Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner told reporters during a Baghdad news conference.

How Iran Is Killing U.S. Troops in Iraq -- [PJM - Bob Owens]
American and Iraqi military forces have repeatedly claimed to have uncovered evidence that Iran is supplying both Sunni and Shia insurgent groups in Iraq with various munitions. Operations in Basra and Baghdad’s Sadr City slum in recent weeks have allegedly uncovered Iranian weapons manufactured as recently as this year, which would seem to preclude Iranian weapons having been obtained on the black market. Instead, it suggests the direct supply of belligerents inside Iraq with Iranian weaponry by the Iranian military with the knowledge of the Iranian government.

The Night of Gun-Toting, Barrel-Blazing Ghost Pandas -- [Kaboom - in Iraq]
Gunfire in Iraq is not a rare thing – especially at night. Most of the time, the scattered, random shots heard somewhere off in the distant shadows fade away with time, not warranting any American attention other than a brief radio report sent from the roof of the combat outpost. That’s most of the time. Occasionally though, the scattered, random shots do not fade – instead progressing into something military vernacular junkies describe as “direct” and “sustained;” i.e. a firefight. This kind of gunplay tends to require our own special brand of attentive intervention. The night of the ghost pandas was one of these times.

Basra Open For Business

After Operation Charge Of The Knights

Summer School -- [Toby Nunn's Briefing Rm - in Iraq]
Sitting in our 5 thumbs down dinning facility today eating lunch several of the Bad Voodoo NCO’s were commenting on the year. Being that we are stationed at the very camp that many soldiers visit on their way home we are constantly seeing new faces and I guess we just never paid attention to the atmosphere because even though we are permanent party here we have always been on the outside looking in and also advoid eating there as mich as possible because it is terrible. (By far the worst chow hall we have eaten in ALL year and Theater)
...The soldiers have all survived their tour which is very much like passing your finals and knowing you will graduate, (granted you show up) but still there with just enough time that you have to still “play the game”.
We are graduates of combat or an “eminent danger tour” to be politically correct since its not right to admit combat these days so who are our Valedictorians? I would like to nominate the Bad Voodoo Squad Leaders, Bad Voodoo Team Leaders and Bad Voodoo Soldiers for doing it even though we didn’t always know what “it” was or why. The young men and some women that showed up and TRIED to do the right thing just not the Great Pretenders. “It’s easy to be the Hero when you’re the one telling the story” was a recent quote from a blank sleeve A/C using oxygen thief the other day. I simply replied “it’s easy to sit and criticize when you don’t know or do”, then I stole a quote from on of my favorite Political Science Professors D. Blair “Some have knowledge of and others have acquaintance with”. Chose wisely when picking sides it the topic of combat.

Sanchez: Iraq Strategy Working & the War Was Worth It

BLITZER: So is it moving in the right direction right now, U.S. strategy, or the wrong direction?
SANCHEZ: No, absolutely, I think the tremendous successes that Dave (GEN Petraeus) and our great young Americans have achieved is, in fact, allowing us to move in the right direction.
BLITZER: General, looking back, knowing what we know right now and obviously we’re all a lot smarter we are now as opposed to then. Was this war a mistake?
SANCHEZ: Well I think when we look at exactly what the decision elements were that were being considered, the intelligence that we believed in, I don’t know that our nation’s leadership, both military and political, could have made any other decision.
And, in fact, Saddam was a significant threat in the region and we expected that we had some sort of WMD capability that was likely to get in the hands of extremists. So, when you look back, given what we knew then, I don’t believe you can call it a mistake.

Sanchez Concedes He Had Enough Troops in Iraq 2003 -- [Amy Proctor]
LT GEN (RET) Ricardo Sanchez, former Multi-National Forces in Iraq commander, promoting his new book Wiser in Battle; a Soldier’s Story on CNN’s Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, conceded he did tell Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in Iraq that he had enough troops on the ground in 2003. This contradicts his complaints both publicly since his retirement and in his book that throughout his command in Iraq he did not have enough troops.

Kuwait -- [Pearl in the Desert - in Iraq]
My journey home has begun – I bid a final farewell to Iraq yesterday and am now in Kuwait. ...Early Sunday morning we (those of us EWOs who are finally heading home) will move to a different base to actually begin the Warrior Transition Process. Some of it is quite important, like turning in all of our Army equipment, some of it is mandatory, like the “don’t go home and beat your family” lectures we get at the end of every deployment, but it is all intentionally designed to take longer than necessary to give us time to “decompress” from our time in a combat zone. I think their heart is in the right place but I imagine by the time I get on a plane to head home I will be more antsy than relaxed after all of the sitting around time. I will say it is nice not having a schedule today and being able to just wear my PT shorts and t-shirt in the 105 degree heat rather than having to wear my normal uniform with sleeves rolled down!

AFGHANISTAN

My Son's in Afghanistan: Complaining Because he isn't Fighting the Taliban Enough!-- [Times Online]
Another traumatic phone call from 'Stan for our soldier's mum Mandy
I have heard the term ‘I’m bored’ twice this week and am in real danger of swinging off my virtual ‘orse and drowning myself in my honey encrusted milk! Firstly, Ross phoned from Camp Bastion, full of roller-coasting emotion about having operations cancelled at the last minute every day this week. “It’s just so frustrating mum!” I bite my lip to quell the feelings of joy. So! There is a God! I immediately phone the Ministry of Pretence to thank them…..but they are too busy fielding calls from the Home Office.

Baja 1000 - Part two... -- [Third Time's A Charm! - in Afghanistan]
Last week I went on another convoy to Bagram. Again, I was convoy commander in what we lovingly refer to as a “two ship” (a nod to how we reference two aircraft on a CAS* mission), meaning we had two trucks with 5 guys between them both inside. The morning of the convoy I was uneasy, even secretly saying to myself, “Do I really want to go on this one today?... Is there any other way we can get these tasks completed without going to Bagram?”….. Much to my chagrin, I already knew the answers… and they were an obvious “No!” to both, and I had no choice.

24th MEU South Helmand

Happy Mothers day from OEF -- [SandGram - in Afghanistan]
...All the Afghan’s that I have come in contact with are super nice and love to smile. You greet them with your right hand over your heart and say ‘Salaam Mailickem’ and they will do the same. Like people all around the world, they just want to provide food for their families and have some sort of home.
I have to say that this place reminds me of Mexico in a way with the crazy drivers except you don’t see this everyday in Mexico–a flock of sheep going down the main street with cars whizzing around them at hyper speeds as the father and son try not to get them killed (now I know where our mystery meat comes from.) The women for the most part walk around in beautiful blue burkas, but the children don’t wear them from what I have seen. Sometimes I’ll be waiting for my ride to pick me up, and the children from the school two miles down will come over to say hello.

Afghanistan’s Only Female Governor Meets With Coalition Forces -- [DVIDS]
Afghanistan’s only female governor met with a top U.S. national security advisor at the governor’s palace in Bamyan province, Afghanistan.
The governor and generals discussed ongoing needs for the province and the progress they have made with the help of the New Zealand provincial reconstruction team, TG CRIB 12, at Forward Operating Base Bamian.
“In many provinces, there are problems between provincial council and local government, but here, there is not,” Sorabi said. “With the old system, the system of kings, they believed the people were slaves to them. With the new system, the democracy system, we believe we are the servants to the people.”

Assignment Afghanistan: Entry #1 -- [The National Defense - embed in Iraq]
So I get to work, do some nosing around, make acquaintance with a couple of people: one from the U.S. State Department and a U.S. Army Major, both of whom are members of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT’s). I explain that I had been in-country a couple of years ago and was curious as to how/what things may have changed since then.
...And it’s here in Khost, that counterinsurgency directed and implemented by U.S. forces have met with success by way of roads, schools, clinics as well as establishing and improving economic opportunities.
Okay, so now that I’ve heard about all of the success, I want to see it…experience it.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Pilot of First Burma Relief Mission Describes Experience -- [DVIDS]
The Air Force pilot who flew the first U.S. relief flight to Burma said today that, while he and his crew were received warmly, it was clear to him that more relief is needed.
"Everyone ... was so ecstatic or excited to have us there on the ground," Capt. Trevor Hall said during a teleconference with online journalists and "bloggers." "With very little broken English that we could make out, they were trying to say, 'Please bring more; please bring more.'"

U.S. Aid to Myanmar

Training (and Sweating) to standard -- [Strong Ideas - in Bangladesh]
So the temperature in Bangladesh this time of year is hot. The average in the Farenheit grade has been between the high 80s and the high 90s with an average of 98 degrees, with a humidity of about 70%. Thus, being the sweat machine that deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Katrina have proven me to be, I have shed about eight pounds since our arrival...now to keep it off.
The exercise has enabled us to work with combat leaders from across the Asian subcontinent and it has been a great opportunity to get to know the cultures, values and training standards of these diverse peoples.
It has also given us, as members of the Oregon National Guard, both Army and Air components, to get to know each other better, reminding us of the incredible value we bring to the expeditionary military environment we are currently so actively involved within.

Interpol Confirms: US Democrat Was Secretly Working With FARC To Undermine Colombian Government -- [Gateway Pundit]
US Democratic Congressman James McGovern was offering the Marxist FARC terrorists help in undermining the Colombian government.
Interpol confirmed documents today showing that US Congressman James McGovern (D., Mass.) (pictured), a leading opponent of the Colombia free-trade deal has been working with a go-between, who has been offering the FARC terrorists help in undermining Colombia's elected and popular government.
Colombia is America's closest ally in South America.

Saudis see no reason to raise oil production now -- [AP]
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi Arabian leaders made clear Friday they see no reason to increase oil production until their customers demand it, apparently rebuffing President Bush amid soaring U.S. gasoline prices. During Bush's second personal appeal this year to King Abdullah, Saudi officials stuck to their position that they are already meeting demand, the president's national security adviser told reporters.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Dead Guy OBL Awakens Again For New Message -- [Jawa Report]
From Laura Mansfield
Just two weeks shy of the tenth anniversary of Osama Bin Laden's declaration in a televised press conference that he "does not differentiate between those dressed in military uniforms and civilians: they are all targets".
Bin Laden once again attempts to take center stage, with the announcement of a message addressing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.

Do you want to help fight the cyber-GWOT? -- [jihadi SMACKDOWN of the day] HT: Jawa
You can, and best of all it's easy! Help YouTube SMACKDOWN remove jihadi recruiting videos from YouTube.
We know how valuable your time is, so we've made it simple. All you need to do is subscribe to this feed and flag ONE video a day.

Al Qaeda Leader Punked -- [Strategy Page]
May 15, 2008: The head of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al Masri, just got demoted. The U.S. reward for his capture, dead or alive, was reduced from $5 million to $100,000. There's been no response to this from mister al Masri, but one can assume that he is not happy. It's difficult to keep track of who is winning in the war on terror. But one measure of success is the size of the rewards offered for terrorist leaders. High rewards indicate a dangerous man. On the downside, those rewards require the guy in question has to be careful with where he goes and who he associates with. Earlier this month, Iraqi police thought they had arrested al Masri, but it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. That incident apparently caused the U.S. to review its rewards policy for al Qaeda officials in Iraq. It's been a bad year for al Qaeda there, with heavy losses and a major reduction in capabilities.

National Lab Security Failure - We Get What We Pay For -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Today, the Washington Times reported the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, that conducts research on America’s nuclear weapons and houses special nuclear material for that research, failed a crucial counter-terror security exercise (also reported in today’s CTB Newslinks section). The exercise was a “force-on-force” operation where mock commandos infiltrated and took over key parts of the facility, managing to gain access to what would have been quantities of that special nuclear material.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

NPR radio interview with DJ Emery -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
The story focuses on the infection which nearly cost DJ his life after being wounded in February 2007. The infection which caused his doctors and his mom to be faced with the gut-wrenching choice between life or limb almost 6 weeks after his injury.
Going back to the beginning, DJ also tells about getting blown up. "I was trying to get up, find my rifle and stuff... but I couldn't move. I couldn't see anything, either."

Home from war, injured vet recalls darkest hour

May 15: A roadside bomb left Sergeant Israel Del Toro severely burned and with little chance of survival. But medical advancements, 97 surgeries, and Del Toro's unwavering devotion to his son kept him going. NBC's Anna Davlantes reports.

Wounded Warrior Games -- [Blog-ah]
Wounded Warrior Summit helps warriors keep their skills current
MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Fort Lewis, Wash. –Madigan Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion will host a two-day Wounded Warrior Summit May 20-21.
Day one will kick off at the Fort Lewis Cowan Stadium. Hundreds of wounded warriors will participate in a variety of competition-style adaptive recreation activities and military skills testing – all are designed to prepare wounded Soldiers for their transition back to active service or civilian life. Additionally, there will be a variety of family oriented activities, information booths, and lots of food.

Real People, Real Support

We, as a society, are failures. -- [Chuck Z]
...All three were lauded by their local elected representatives and each was Proclaimed "insert entertainer's name here day" in their hometowns. They were given "heroes welcomes." Hero refers to people that, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self-sacrifice, that is, heroism, for some greater good, originally of martial courage or excellence but extended to more general moral excellence.
Here's my point (and I do have one):
The American Public, represented by the general public in these three towns, are so hopelessly out of touch with what deserves adulation and exaltation that they choose these individuals to put up on pedestals and give heroes (or prodigal children's) welcomes. As a society, unless we can change this, we are doomed to fail.

1,000 -- [
So that friendly competition where Jack Bauer was rushing to get home before I finished writing 1,000 cards for our wounded soldiers for Soldiers' Angels Germany. Well the competition is over. Jack Bauer made it home. But I had finished writing all the cards two days before. But we mailed 159 cards yesterday.
Running total: 1,000
Here's the link to the post that got me started. If you want more information on how to start your own letter/card writing campaign (or other volunteer opportunities), visit Soldiers' Angels Germany

MILITARY / MILITARY LIFE

Disqualified General Won't Quit Tribunals-- [Miami Herald]
San Juan, Puerto Rico - A Pentagon official said Wednesday that he will not resign as legal advisor to war-crimes tribunals at Guantánamo, despite his removal from the trial of Osama bin Laden's driver because of a lack of impartiality.
But Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas Hartmann left open the possibility that he could step aside if questions about his neutrality bog down other cases.
"I am the legal advisor today. We take it one day at a time," Hartmann told The Associated Press.
Last week, a military judge barred Hartmann from any role in the case against Salim Hamdan - Osama bin Laden's driver, possibly for case to go to trial - because he aligned himself too closely with prosecutors. Hartmann said he will abide by the judge's ruling and noted that he did not testify in the Hamdan case.

Purple Heart For PTSD? -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
It shouldn't be so, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates is saying that the possibility of awarding the Purple Heart to veterans of Iraq and Aghanistan "needs to be looked at".

Does PTSD Warrant a Purple Heart?

Readjustment And Trivia -- [Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure - recently retuned home]
The Army warns you about readjustment and "reintegration." Oddly enough, a lot of it is true. They warn about depression, or let-down. They warn about the family and things that happen normally as part of reintegration.
A lot of it is true.
I never felt overly "jacked-up" in Afghanistan. It all felt pretty normal to me, actually. There were a few times when I knew that I could easily be killed, and there were several times when I knew without a doubt that if the ACM had chosen to hit us at that moment that I was in a very very precarious position.
I did, however, feel alert. There have been times here in the States that I have been inattentive, even though I was going through the motions.

Those lean, mean, green Marines -- [Military Watch]
When the Marines of the 1st Battalion 6th Marines come out of Garmsir, Afghanistan, where they've been fighting for two weeks, they will bring out with them their ... waste.
Along with weapons and ammo, MREs, combat first-aid gear and a hundred other items, Marines are issued WAG (waste alleviation and gelling) bags.
These are plastic pouches that hold granular stuff like kitty litter and, well, everything you need when other facilities aren't available.
It all goes in a goof-proof zip-lock bag when you're done. And goes back in your rucksack. And you WILL carry it all out, Devil Dog.
It's kind to the environment, of course. But it's also sound tactics.
"Anything we take in, an MRE or a battery or anything, we take out,"

Army Wife Shares True Feelings -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
-I’m the one you walk past in Wal-Mart smelling a man’s brand of deodorant and buying the same brand of shower gel. I’m trying to remember his smell. I’m the one that sprays his cologne on his pillow so it seems like he is by me when I go to sleep.
-“I’m the one you see in the back of the church, a tear running down my face as the congregation prays for our country and our troops. He’s one of them. “I’m the one you beep at for sitting at a green light. I was looking at the flag blowing in the breeze at the corner gas station and thinking of all it means to me, to him, and to our life together.
-“I’m the one with a trunk full of flat rate boxes and customs forms, I know my local postal workers by name. The package I send him makes him seem close to me.
-“I’m the one you walk past as I completely fall apart and lose it because I left my cell phone at home. You might think ‘it’s just a phone,’ but it’s the life line of my marriage and it was his day to call.
-“I’m the one you have labeled as quiet or reserved, the one who is never really part of anything, you don’t know I wear the faraway look because my heart boarded the plane with his...

Saying Goodbye

WELCOME HOME

Home at last -- [Yellowhammering Afghanistan - home from Afghanistan]
After a day of bus rides and airplane flights we were finally reunited with our families for a very brief ceremony in Montgomery Tuesday night.
Family and friends cheered as our bus pulled in at the armory in Montgomery. After hugs, kisses and congratulations were passed around, all of us were just ready to get home.
As we neared home, signs, banners and balloons lined our street and were scattered on the roadways in McCalla. (Thank you, Grafix South for the great job on all the signs and the Collins and Wade families for the surprise balloon work.)

Back from Iraq, Army Strong Families, Reintegrating Balance -- [A Dog Faced Chaplin - home from Iraq]
I am happy to write tonight from the comfort of my own home! I have been home now a couple of weeks and our Soldiers are streaming in every day from Iraq upon our successful completion of the mission there.
I had the opportunity to return with the Advance Party in order to conduct a retreat for the Brigade. The 3 day retreat was sponsored by the Army Strong Bonds Program which is an initiative of the US Army Chaplain Corps to aid in building Families...Army Strong.

POLITICS

Ask the Candidates -- [MilBlogs - Andi]
Do you have a question about "military and veteran issues" that you'd like to pose to the Presidential candidates? Here's your chance:
Take part in this historic, online debate over military and veteran issues. You could be one of the 12 people chosen by our editors to have your question directly answered by Obama, Clinton and McCain. This is your chance to ask the candidates about the most important issues in the military community.
Click here to submit your video questions.

War Spending Part of Supplemental Bill Defeated -- [Defense News]
House Republicans rebelled against a Democratic leadership-crafted emergency war spending bill today by helping anti-war members of the majority party kill a provision that would have sent $162.5 billion to the Pentagon for the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
The move by a rebellious block of House Republicans sent ripple waves across Capitol Hill and cast doubt over when Congress will be able to send a final version of the measure to the White House.
...It is unclear when the House will vote again on the war funding measure.

Pentagon Endorses Transfer of GI Bill Benefits to Spouses, Children -- [DefenseLink]
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2008 – The Pentagon provided proposed legislation to Congress to make it easier for servicemembers to transfer GI Bill education benefits to their spouses or children and to increase the tuition ceiling amount paid by the program, a senior Defense Department official said here today.
The proposal was sent to Capitol Hill on April 21. It reflects departmental desire to improve education and job opportunities for servicemembers and military spouses that President Bush cited in his Jan. 28 State of the Union speech.
The ability for servicemembers to transfer their Montgomery GI Bill education benefits to spouses exists now, but it’s an either/or re-enlistment option, with most servicemembers choosing bonuses when they sign up for another “hitch,” Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, said during a conference call with military analysts. Army spouses routinely say that obtaining education benefits is one of their top concerns, Carr noted.

I'm no fan of Senator Jim Webb -- [Signaleer]
That said, Senator Webb is not an armchair quarterback. He is a Vietnam Marine who received the Navy Cross for heroism. Under President Reagan, he resigned as the Secretary of the Navy as a protest because the Administration wouldn't increase his department's budget to handle the Cold War mission. His son is a Marine and OIF veteran. And yet he's still willing to throw the mission and us with it, under the bus.
Aside from that, His new bill, S22, a generous (too generous) restructuring of the GI Bill, is really another attempt to bleed the DoD budget.

Apparently ... -- [CounterColumn]
...we're NOT at war with Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Gary Hart: "If John McCain seriously believes we are at war with al Qaeda in Iraq, that alone is such a serious error in judgment as to rank him with George W. Bush at his worst and therefore disqualify him from any chance to govern this country."
I suspect Mr. Hart's viewpoint is news to Al Qaeda in Iraq. Apparently, David Bellavia imagined the whole thing.
Oh. Hart compares neoconservatives to Nazis for good measure.

McCain predicts 2013 Iraq exit8 hours ago -- [Times Union]
...McCain's comments quickly drew widespread condemnation from Democrats and questions about whether he was actually setting a timetable for withdrawal, something he has strenuously criticized.
"It's not a timetable; it's victory. It's victory, which I have always predicted," McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, told reporters.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who favors a withdrawal, said McCain offered no concrete proposals to back up his goal.
"This is not the first time Sen. McCain has predicted victory in Iraq," Clinton said. "He promises more of the same Bush policies that have weakened our military, our national security, and our standing in the world. Our country cannot afford more empty promises on Iraq."

ACLU Manufactures a Crisis With Iraqi Detainees -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
The wags at the ACLU are attempting to make mountains of molehills with the issue of juvenile detainees at Camp Cropper in Baghdad. After Abu Ghraib, the U.S. military realized the urgent necessity to be more forthcoming with how Iraqi detainees were treated and the importance of rehabilitation to the overall counter-insurgency campaign as Small Wars Journal explains. The ACLU "broke" this earth-shattering news with a cornball press release yesterday, which made a big stink in the media.
...I guess the ACLU doesn't have "Teh Google" at work, because the issue of juvenile detainees in Iraq was already in the news...last year.
Similar to the ~100,000 juvenile prisoners in America, the juvenile detainees are taken off Iraq's streets because they are in urgent need of reform and rehabilitation.

Obama Moonbat... Another Strange Foreign Policy Gaffe -- [Gateway Pundit]
"Right now, we don't have enough troops, and NATO hasn't provided enough troops because they are still angry about us going into Iraq."
Hmm... Do you suppose Obama heard that at church?
This was one of those slips that reveals the Far Left core of the Obamessiah.
...Truly... Obama sees ending the Iraq "mistake" a key point in his foreign policy agenda. But, more than that, his statement shows that Obama believes our NATO allies act in mean spiteful ways and make foreign policy decisions based on emotion.
That seems a bit immature for the man who wants to be president of the United States, wouldn't you say?
And, where did Obama get this?... From Daily Kos or Trinity UCC?
Obama is wrong about NATO troops.

Obama's sniper tale? When he stood up to Detroit's 'cold' shoulder -- [LA Times]
Is this another Bosnian sniper incident, where a Democratic candidate for president describes a scene involving some personal courage, but later videotape shows that maybe perhaps it wasn't really quite all like that exactly?

THE MEDIA

Media victory in Iraq -- [From the Fronline]
Sociologist Andrew M. Lindner writes in the latest issue of the American Sociological Association’s Context magazine about his findings on how the media reported, and continue to report, the Iraq war. He says, the dearth of embedded reporting effectively gave an Iraq “media victory” for the Bush Administration,

Tribeca Film Festival: Lioness. -- [My American-Iraq Life]
a man with an Obama pin was behind me. He looked really excited...not for the film, he just seemed excited about life...really smiley and non-threatening. I asked him what brought him out to see the film... and he said, "it seemed interesting." He then asked me the same question, I told him I was a vet and was really excited to see a documentary that just focused on female Soldiers.
...I had no idea before seeing this that there were groups of females nicknamed "Lioness", who supported raids. They went out with male Soldiers to search female Iraqis and to ease them while their houses/husbands were being searched.
...Throughout the film, you learn about each females story and struggles. They all engaged in fire fights, some have killed, they had to prove themselves to the male Soldiers, and you get a glimpse into what war is like through a females eyes.

Silver Star Being Used as Feminist Symbol -- [The Tank - Elaine Donnelly]
A front-page May 1 story by Washington Post reporter Ann Scott Tyson, titled “Woman Gains Silver Star – And Removal from Combat; Case Shows Contradictions of Army Rules,” omitted much of the story in order to push a favorite feminist cause.

The Bloodless Bullets of Baghdad -- [Confederate Yankee]
I suspect that this is less a case of "fauxtography" than a curious physiological response, but Associated Press cameraman Karim Kadim captured this photo of a Sadr City woman having a bullet removed from her forearm.
Here is an enlarged and cropped version of the photo as tweaked in PhotoShop to focus on the wound. I got as close as I could without distorting the image significantly.

Matthews Rips Guest For Ignorance of History, Then Claims Cole Attack Happened Under Bush -- [NewsBusters]
Message to Chris Matthews: when ripping a guest for his lack of historical knowledge, try to avoid making a history mistake of your own in the same segment.
It happened on this afternoon's Hardball. After lambasting a guest for not knowing his Neville Chamberlain history, Matthews surmised that the attack on the USS Cole in October, 2000 happened under . . . President Bush.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

With Memorial Day around the corner, Sen. John McCain and his allies are reaching out to Virginia Democratic Sen. Jim Webb in the hope of finding a compromise on a GI Bill that would eliminate a potential embarrassment for the Arizona Republican’s presidential campaign.
<...>
It was McCain who instigated a letter to Webb signed by himself and two fellow Republicans on Monday, in an effort to end a standoff between the two Vietnam veterans. Discussions followed Tuesday between Webb and McCain ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and late in the day there was a staff meeting that lasted more than an hour.

It is too early to predict what will come of the discussions, but Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), a former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman who has served as an intermediary of sorts between the Webb and McCain camps, was hopeful.

“I think it’s an exciting chapter. I’m enjoying every minute of it,” Warner told Politico. “We’re going to get it. I’ll bet your bottom dollar we get it. ... I’ll give you odds we’re going to win.”

Webb has steadily picked up support for his proposal and this week moved within two votes of the 60 needed to overcome procedural obstacles in the Senate.
<...>
Webb is in a strong enough political position that he will be reluctant to make major changes. But it is also in the Virginian’s interest to bring as many senators, including his friend McCain, into the same camp.

The letter sent Monday is conciliatory in tone, expressing a “sincere interest in working with you on one of the most important issues that may come before the Senate this year: a revitalized GI Bill program.”

“Each of us supports increasing education benefits for our nation’s veterans, and we believe this must be accomplished as quickly as possible,” reads the letter, signed by McCain, Graham and Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). The three Republicans go on to say that they have “never disagreed with the overall intent” of the Webb bill but would like more attention to problems of recruitment and retention as well as “in-service education of career servicemen and women.”

I checked McCain's campaign blog for any mention of the GI Bill issue (specifically I was hoping to see the full text of that letter) - but they're currently foot stomping McCain's solution for "climate change".

IRAQ

Girl, Eight, In Iraq Suicide Bombing -- [Sky News]
An eight-year-old girl strapped with explosives has blown up and killed an Iraqi army captain.
The bomb was detonated by remote control, injuring four soldiers in addition to the one who died, an Iraqi Army spokesman said.
Local authorities imposed a curfew in the area and American troops launched a search for those responsible.
US soldiers confirmed that a young girl was involved in the attack, which took place near Youssifiyah, south of the capital, Baghdad.
The horrific bombing came as Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki flew to Mosul to take charge of a major offensive against al Qaeda.

Bush disappointed with intel before Iraq war -- [NPR]
President Bush said Tuesday he was disappointed in "flawed intelligence" before the Iraq war and was concerned that if a Democrat wins the presidency in November and withdrew troops prematurely it could "eventually lead to another attack on the United States."
...A question submitted from the online audience asked Bush whether he felt he had been misled about Iraq as he made the decision to go to war.
"`Misled' is a strong word," he said. "Not only our intelligence community, but intelligence communities all across the world shared the same assessment. And so I was disappointed to see how flawed our intelligence was."
"Do I think somebody lied to me? No, I don't. I think it was just, you know, they analyzed the situation and came up with the wrong conclusion," he added.

The Daily Show - Douglas Feith Uncut

(part 2)

Hussayn's Story -- [Castle Argghhh! - CW4BillT - in Iraq]
The visual-only sim can be a stomach-churner, but a couple of the IqAF Fling-Wing pilots who have come up here from Taji are pretty tough – the only thing that gets to them is my coffee.
Hussayn was recovering from a cup of my extra-strength double espresso with a bottle of tamarind soda (if you’re curious, take a can of Doctah Peppah and add a couple of ounces of OJ, then sip, cautiously). He gave me a bit of perspective on what it’s like to have Crusader Myrmidons roaming your neighborhood.
“After Baghdad falls to the US, I am cashiered out of the Air Force and take a job in one of the markets in my neighborhood. One night, some of my friends are visiting, and we have a barbecue and are watching videos of cowboy movies. There is a knock on my door. I open it and there is a US patrol. They ask if they can enter my house and I say, 'Sure, come in.' I offer them some barbecue, because we see them on patrol; we recognize them and know how long they are out before they return to base. They say, 'No, thank you. We have eaten recently.'
"Then they ask if I have weapons. One of my friends says to me in Arabic, 'Tell them "No" because they will take your guns and you will be defenseless.' I tell him in Arabic, 'I will not lie to them or they will not trust us.'
"So I say, 'Yes, I have a submachinegun, an AK and a pistol.' The patrol leader says, 'Bring them, please. We need to see them.' So, I bring them out.

Transformation of Yatheeb -- [IN Iraq - in Iraq]
The town children call him “Mister John”. He kneels to talk to them and they ask him when he’s bringing soccer balls. The local armed citizens know his face. Lt. Col. John Dunleavy and his Personal Security Detail regularly patrol these streets. They smile and wave. It wasn’t like this several months ago.

U.S. Aerial Weapons Team Kills Criminal, Destroys Mortar Tube

Footage of a Multi-National Division – Baghdad aerial weapons team that killed a criminal and destroyed a mortar tube being used by criminals to launch indirect-fire attacks in the Kadhamiyah district of Baghdad, May 14.
At approximately 10:50 a.m. May 14, a Multi-National Division – Baghdad unmanned aerial vehicle was conducting an aerial surveillance in the Kadhamiyah district of Baghdad and observed three criminals firing a mortar. An AWT engaged the criminals with two Hellfire missiles. One criminal was killed and the mortar tube was destroyed. Provided by Multi-National Division - Baghdad.

MG Lynch, Part III: Growth and Transtions -- [Castle Argghhh! - FBL]
In January when I interviewed the 3ID Chief of Staff, he was obviously concerned about getting help with rebuilding the economy and infrastructure. COL McKnight said, "we are very good at security operations, but other enablers can help us with the economy." He expressed the need for private investment and expertise, and help with building infrastructure.
...In January when I interviewed the 3ID Chief of Staff, he was obviously concerned about getting help with rebuilding the economy and infrastructure. COL McKnight said, "we are very good at security operations, but other enablers can help us with the economy." He expressed the need for private investment and expertise, and help with building infrastructure.

Commander Says Al-Qaida ‘Virtually Destroyed’ in Kirkuk -- [Pat Dollard]
WASHINGTON — Violence in Iraq’s Kirkuk province has dropped by 70 percent, and coalition and Iraqi forces have “virtually destroyed” al-Qaida in Iraq in the region, the commander of the U.S. brigade combat team in the area said May 12.
Army Col. David Paschal, commander of 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, said that as security improves in the strategic northern province, changes are happening in the economy and in governance that help cement the security progress in place.
Four developments have helped the battle against insurgents in the Rhode Island-sized province of 1.5 million, Paschal told Pentagon reporters in a teleconference from his headquarters at Contingency Operating Base Speicher. The developments are: ...

UAV Predator Engage IED Emplacement Team With Hellfire In Iraq

Air Strike On Insurgents Who Planted An IED In Iraq.

Low level flying and last departure -- [Miserable Donuts - in Iraq]
A couple of days back I got the Tour of All Southern Iraq, inadvertantly. I was flying what I thought was a quick trip back to my usual digs. Instead, I was asked where I was going, and more than once I was told "oh, you're last off" in a rather ominous manner. But hey, I had never seen Um Qasr, Camp Bucca, etc...

The only constant is change -- [Miserable Donuts - in Iraq]
Looks like I will have some changes, again, coming down the road. I'll be moving again, and working with different Iraqis. Somewhere in there I get a couple of weeks leave too. When I got to Iraq I thought I would be at one location, doing a fairly interesting, but stable job. Boy was I wrong. So I have learned that in Iraq, the only constant thing about your deploymkent is change.
But for now ...

Demand for dollar soars up in daily auction-- [Iraq Updates - Voices of Iraq]
Demand for the dollar was up in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Tuesday, registering at$157.795 million compared to $69.120 million on Monday.
"The demand hit $6.315 million in cash and $151.480 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,200 Iraqi dinars per dollar, stable for the fourth consecutive session" according to the central bank's daily bulletin which was received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).
The 16 banks that participated in the auction offered to sell $1.200 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,198 dinars per dollar.

Two al-Qaeda senior commanders captured east of Mosul -- [Iraq Updates - Voices of Iraq]
Iraqi Army forces on Tuesday arrested two al-Qaeda senior commanders east o Mosul while escaping the all-out offensive launched by joint troops in Ninewa since four days, a military source ...

Clashes continue in Sadr City -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The Iraqi military said it killed eight “gunmen” inside Sadr City over the past 24 hours. The US military said it killed two Mahdi Army fighters from the night of May 12 to the morning of May 13 during five separate engagements. Three more Mahdi Army fighters were killed in the Mahdi-influenced neighborhood in New Baghdad and in northwestern Baghdad as they planted roadside bombs.
The attacks occurred during construction on the barrier along Qods Street, the main thoroughfare that divides the southern third of Sadr City from the northern neighborhoods. The US military used air weapons teams armed with Hellfire missiles, Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, and infantry to beat back the attacks.
The US military does not believe the radical elements of the Mahdi Army will obey Sadr’s call for a ceasefire.

Iraq News (14 May) -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
The Good: The Wall Street Journal editorial board says Prime Minister Maliki is a big winner for cracking down on Shi'ite militias within the last 2 months. Now, the Iraqi Security Forces have their sights on the terrorist threat in Mosul, in which the Prime Minister showed up today to supervise operations. The Kurds have offered their support for the operations in Mosul. However, American media is still focused on the ceasefire saying whether or not the truce negotiated between the UIA and Sadr Trend is holding in Sadr City. The superb Long War Journal reports some clashes that have left 10 militia fighters dead in Sadr City, mostly around the Al-Qods street security barrier. 3 new oil fields have been discovered in the Kurdish region containing 2 Billion barrels (worldwide demand is about 90 million barrels/day).

Iran’s Shifting Strategy -- [Talisman Gate - an iraqi journalist]
The healing in Iraq and the deterioration in Lebanon are not unrelated. In fact, Iraq will serve as both cause and effect to Lebanon’s misfortunes. Iran, eclipsed in Sadr City, had decided to allow its sectarian acolytes to put on a show of strength in Beirut. And the jihadists of Al Qaeda’s ilk, soon to be eclipsed in Mosul, will migrate to Beirut to meet Iran’s challenge.
Five years ago, there was a hope that held Iraq as a would-be beacon for democracy throughout the Middle East, but that vision had too many determined enemies both inside and outside Iraq.

Iran Not Just Hiding Their Nuke Program, They're Hiding Babes Too! -- [Lt Nixon - in Iraq]
21st century Iran usually brings up my own mental image of Hezbollah thugs in Lebanon, a secretive nuclear program, and rockets whizzing over my head as I scramble for cover. But did you know that they are hiding a wide variety of Persian babes as well? Iraqi Bloggers Central has a pretty good round up for those interested in checking out babes from other parts of the globe (I'm a sailor, so it's a requirement and part of our tradition). Although, I disagree with his statement that women shouldn't be "shielded" or "occulted" away. Because, who am I to say what is wrong and what is right with someone else's culture? Many Iraqi women are just as lovely looking no matter how they dress in public. Unfortunately, it is considered extremely offensive in Arabic culture for us infidel types to stare lustfully at a women or engage in small talk you would find at a club on Saturday night.

The Sliding Desert Scale -- [Fraser - in Iraq]
...The 1-10 Scale is a term used here in The Desert. We all know that guys (and more than likely women also) rate the opposite sex on a scale of one to ten. ...
...I live in a desert. I am in area of the world where everyone carries guns. I work with people that are made up primarily Type-A personalities and 98% male. Let’s do the math - that makes it somewhere around…. (I am going to consult with my editor about this one. He has many degrees, and scored very high on his SAT.) 100%-98%= 2%. Right? [Yes J- that is right -ed.]
Yes, it is somewhere around 2% female. So there are not very many women in my neck of the woods. I am not including the indigenous population. They wear burkas. Kind of like a surprise package. You don’t know what kind of horror story you have until you open the book. There is no scale for that!
Now you know the environment I am talking about.
THE SLIDING DESERT SCALE
This scale is much like the aforementioned 1-10 scale, but there is the difference. Any women willing to show up here in the desert, in this beautiful paradise, automatically receives an additional five points for the effort.

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Moving At Half Speed This Year -- [Strategy Page]
May 14, 2008: Afghan and security forces waited, and waited, for the Taliban Spring Offensive, but it never came. Gun battles with the Taliban were down 50 percent so far, compared to last year. Roadside bomb attacks were about the same. But Taliban casualties were up, as more Afghan and NATO forces went looking for them. Last year, 8,000 people died in Taliban violence. So far this year, the death toll is 1,200, indicating casualties for the year will be about half what they were last year. This year, a higher proportion of the dead are Taliban and al Qaeda, and a lower proportion civilians. While some Taliban commanders have tried to develop new tactics to reduce casualties (smaller units of Taliban, and avoiding contact with police and troops), nothing has worked. The Afghan army is larger (76,000 troops) and better trained than last year, and there are more foreign troops. Worst of all, more tribal leaders have sided with the government this year,

Enemies securing U.S. night-vision gear -- [USA Today]
Thefts and illegal exports of advanced military night-vision gear are rising sharply and U.S. officials say some of the equipment has reached enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq, where it could erode the advantage U.S. troops have in after-dark combat.
...In at least five cases, prosecutors linked shipments to terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda and Hezbollah. A few others were headed to Iran and Taliban forces in Afghanistan, court records show; several were destined for China and Japan.

Coalition Forces Kill Taliban Militants in Afghanistan -- [DefenseLink]
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2008 – About a dozen militant extremists were killed yesterday during a coalition forces operation in Afghanistan’s Helmand province to disrupt Taliban weapons supply operations, military officials reported.
Coalition forces searched compounds in the province’s Garmser district, targeting a Taliban commander conducting weapons supply operations in the area. While conducting their search, coalition forces saw militants setting up an ambush and responded with small-arms fire and air strikes.
Coalition troops discovered rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, assault rifles, cases of ammunition, and two mortars. The troops destroyed the weapons to prevent their use, officials said.

Dutch F-16 bombing taliban compound in Afghanistan
The video shows the footage from the cockpit of two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s as they drop GBU-12 laser guided bombs on taliban positions.
There is some Dutch talking in the background but I couldn't filter it out. An Air Force spokesperson is basicly explaining how they operate.

Translated:
"Machinegun fire came from a compound a couple of hundred meters away from a British position. We [the F-16] were called in to destroy the compound. The forward air controller reported that there was no risk of collateral damage, the pilot confirmed this over the radio. A laser guided bomb was then dropped on the compound and stopped the machinegun fire."

Australian Army turns over Camp Lyddiard
A new Afghan National Army (ANA) patrol base in Oruzgan Province that was constructed by Reconstruction Task Force Three (RTF-3) has been left with a lasting Aussie connection.

The Afghan troops now occupying the base and their Dutch counterparts have agreed that Patrol Base Khyber will now carry the local name of Camp Lyddiard, in honour of Sergeant Michael Lyddiard who was seriously wounded by an Improvised Explosive Device last year.

Karzai Urges Farmers to Grow Wheat Instead of Poppies -- [Daily Outlook Afghanistan]
KABUL - Urging farmers to grow wheat instead of poppies, President Hamid Karzai Tuesday announced that the government will seek $2.5 billions of aid from the world community to promote agricultural products and overcome the current food shortage.
Addressing a farmers' conference here the president said he will ask international donors in the Paris Conference next month to grant $2.5 billions in aid to promoting Afghanistan’s agriculture.
We want from the international community promise of supporting the Afghan farmers, in building irrigation system, providing supplements and developing

Signs of success in Surobi - 08-05-2008:

Signs of success in Surobi District as remarkable amounts of weapons and drugs are handed over to international forces.

U.S. delegation visits RC-West, discusses civil and military cooperation -- [ISAF News Release]
...Lt. Gen. Lute discussed RC-West’s mission, focusing on ISAF support and cooperation with Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), as well as civil and military cooperation in Herat province.
The delegation also visited the home of Hussain Anwary, Herat governor, where they received an introduction to the local environment, depicting the current state of economics and politics, focusing on development plans.

ISAF PRT discusses Zabul development with United Nations -- [ISAF News Release]
In order to raise support for local development, the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team discussed projects and issues in Zabul province with United Nations representatives during their visit Thursday.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Church helps Iraqi family in Kentucky -- [Soldiers' Angel Germany]
The couple decided to leave Iraq after Haithem's friend was shot dead while they were driving home from work together one evening. Haithem had worked as an interpreter with Iraqi and US security forces.
...When they first arrived, they slept on the carpeted floor of a completely empty apartment with blankets lent by a friend.
Haithem imagined he would get support from the local mosque in Lexington. They never returned his calls.
The family have now moved to a two-bedroom apartment, which is fully furnished and decorated with gifts from the local ecumenical church

Limited Options in Burma -- [Austin Bay]
How many people have died in Burma (Myanmar) since Cyclone Zargis struck the South Asian nation on May 3? Last Tuesday, Burma's dictatorship officially put the death toll at 34,000, with another 30,000 missing. The United Nations estimated 60,000 dead. Western governments and media argued 100,000 dead might be a better figure, once the statisticians account for casualties caused by disease and displacement.
Add "delay" to the disease and displacement -- in the case of Burma, delay caused by a dictatorship resisting aid efforts (most from Western nations) and emergency supplies.

South Korea to become accompanied deployment -- [Opfor]
With the strains of the Iraq war, and repeated deployments, this seems like a good idea. Just keep the families out of artillery range:
The U.S. government is likely to accept a request by the top American commander in South Korea to extend the length of tours by U.S. troops here and have their families accompany them, a report said Thursday.

A Super Secret Sub Base? -- [Defense Tech]
Has China "secretly built a major underground nuclear submarine base that could threaten Asian countries and challenge American power in the region"? Thomas Harding, writing in the London Daily Telegraph early this month, has declared that it is.

How “Arab” Are the Sunnis of Beirut? -- [Talisman Gate بـاب الطلــسم - an iraqi blog]
There’s a book by an Iraqi author from Basra, who fancifully renders his name as ‘Dr. Yusuf bin Ahmad bin Ali al-Husseini al-Hashimi’. I pulled it off the shelf to check something when the fighting began in Beirut, and I got myself re-acquainted with it. It was first published in 1971 under the title, Beirut wa ‘aa’ilatiha al-sab’a wa ‘useriha al-hadhira ['Beirut and its Seven Families and its Current Families'], and reprinted in Amman, in 2003. The author identifies himself as a historian (PhD 1958) and the head of the ‘Archive and Research Division in Al-Majd University’ of Baghdad—an institution I’ve never heard of. He also cites several other publications that he’d authored about Abbasid history. Al-Hashimi states that his father was a high-standing diplomat stationed in Damascus and Beirut while serving the Iraqi monarchy and that as a consequence he had been raised in Beirut and attended its schools. For this present work, he cites several generic resources on Beirut as well as the Ottoman Archive and the Yildiz Palace Archive in Istanbul.

Lebanese TV Presenter Al-Khatib Blasts Opposition Leaders

Qatar Examines Nuclear Reactor Project -- [MEMRI Blog]
The head of Qatar's Supreme Council for Ecology's Nuclear Implementation apparatus, Dr. Ahmad Jamil Al-Khataybe, has revealed that a project is underway to build a nuclear research reactor in the country, for peaceful purposes, with the full cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

U.S. House Makes It Tougher to Remove North Korea From "State Sponsors" List -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The U.S. House of Representatives will approve a bill with a special section that reinforces the conditions governing North Korea’s potential removal from the list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism." Sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, Section 306 of the Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Reform Act of 2008 requires that before removal, the President must first certify that North Korea has ceased to provide nuclear assistance to Syria, Iran, and other "state sponsors"; has provided a verifiable list of all of its nuclear programs; and allowed the IAEA to monitor and verify the monitoring and verification of the shutdown and sealing of the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
As I write this, I do not know the Administration's position on this section, but as a matter of principle it usually opposes any Congresional action designed to mandate or limit Executive Branch discretion in foreign policy.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

878 soldiers waiting to be adopted... How You Can Help - [Soldiers' Angels]
There are three different ways to help Soldiers' Angels carry out its vital mission:
Donate
Join a Soldiers' Angels Team
Adopt a Soldier
Donating to Soldiers' Angels: If want to help Soldiers' Angels but are unable to adopt a soldier or join a team at this time, please consider helping us out financially. Each donation, no matter the size, helps provide aid and comfort to the troops through our many projects and activities. You can also donate stock, old electronics, air miles, care package items and much more. Click to donate or learn more!

Operation Love From Home -- [Mama Kat]
Our mission at Operation Love From Home is to bring light to those who suffer and combat the darkness for us. We can never fully comprehend the hardships that our enlisted men and women endure while deployed to ensure our safety and freedom...but we can offer them the classic comfort of compassion, the simple gift of gratitude, and the knowledge that their countrymen at home are behind them, and that they will never be forgotten or taken for granted.

America Supports You: USO Dedicates New Lounge at Reagan National Airport -- [Defenselink]
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2008 – Servicemembers transiting through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, near Washington, D.C., now have a new area to spend time between flights after the recent dedication of a new United Service Organizations lounge.
This newly relocated lounge, which began offering services in March, provides a home away from home for traveling servicemembers and their families. It offers active-duty military personnel, National Guardsmen, reservists, Merchant Marines, and their families a variety of free amenities.

Brave Marine Mark Gets Medal -- [The Sun Online]
A BRAVE marine who lost both his legs and an arm in a landmine blast in Afghanistan will WALK to receive his campaign medal today.
Mark Ormrod, who trained alongside Prince Harry, lost his limbs after stepping on the mine on Christmas Eve while serving with 40 Commando in Helmand Province.
The 24-year-old has spent the last three months in intensive training learning to walk again unaided using new bionic legs.
Now he says he has won his "toughest battle yet" and will be able to take part in today's ceremony with his fellow Royal Marines as they receive their campaign medals at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, Somerset.
Mne Ormrod, from Plymouth, Devon, only stood for the first time two weeks ago but now hopes to be able to walk in his wedding to fiancee Becky Hayes next year and return to work for the Royal Marines.
He said: "When I first stood up, being 6ft tall again brought a lump to my throat - and I felt a bit dizzy standing after such a long time."

MILITARY

DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for April 2008 -- [DefenseLink]
The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of April.
Active Duty Recruiting.
April Monthly. All services met or exceeded recruiting goals for the month of April (below) and have surpassed goals for fiscal year 2008 to date.
April 2008 Accessions Goal Percent
Army 5,681 5,650 101
Navy 2,905 2,905 100
Marine Corps 2,233 1,577 142
Air Force 2,435 2,435 100
Active Duty Retention. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps met or exceeded their active duty retention objectives.

COL (RET) George Day's POW Experience with McCain -- [Amy Proctor]
COL (RET) George Day is the most decorated serviceman since Douglas McCarther. He was also a POW at the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam with John McCain and has more than 70 military medals representing his service. Here Day talks about his experiences and torture in captivity with McCain.

'Next-War-itis' Rampant in US Military -- [Defense Tech]
Oh guys, you're gonna love this one.
From today's front page of Military.com:
Gates Cautions Against 'Next-war-itis'
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Pentagon must focus on current war demands, even if it means straining the U.S. armed forces and devoting less time and money on future threats, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.
Meeting the war-fighting needs of the troops now and taking care of them properly when they get home must be the priority, Gates said in a speech to a journalists at a seminar here sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
"I have noticed too much of a tendency towards what might be called Next-War-itis - the propensity of much of the defense establishment to be in favor of what might be needed in a future conflict," Gates said.

CONGRATS

Little Baby Reagan -- [Stop the ACLU]
Welcome to the world, little baby Reagan Dailene Stephenson. She was born on May 12, 2008. She weighed 8 lbs and 4 ounces. She is 21 inches long. She opens her eyes a lot for a newborn. She was born at 3 p.m. So far she is very calm, and not fussy at all.

IN MEMORY OF...

A Hero Who Now Belongs to the Nation -- [GOE]
In a driving downpour, with wind gusts up to 60 mph, 8 motorcycles, 65 private vehicles and a 54 passenger bus departed suburban Pennsylvania to transit a true American hero home to Arlington . Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz, Medal of Honor recipient, was escorted by three hundred of us. There were a couple minor glitches. Two members of the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club went down at 50 mph, but were only banged up and bruised. One of them even got back on the bike and finished the ride. At another point 5 vehicles and the bus were separated from the pack by inconsiderate drivers who cut in on the funeral procession. Everyone made it to the grave site in time though.
...Tony is a Vietnam vet who told me a couple weeks ago that nothing would stop him from helping to take Mike home. He is a man of his word and I personally wish to offer him my thanks. As the rain poured down on us just seeing the lights flashing on that bike, with the guidon flapping in the wind, caused my chest to pound with excitement. Mike belongs to the nation as a whole now, as is fitting. Sleep well brother. You are finally home.

Army sergeant had 'heart the size of the entire state' -- [Sign on San Diego] HT: CJ
“He was always pulling something,” said Stone, Vaughn's football and wrestling coach at Serra High School in San Diego. “I could run the living crud out of him and I could never get rid of that smile.”
Last month, Vaughn came home from Iraq in the uniform of an Army sergeant, his coffin draped with an American flag. He died April 7 on the first patrol of his second tour in Iraq. He was leading members of his platoon into hostile fire after an attack on his convoy in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood.
Vaughn was 22.
“He wasn't a stellar athlete, but he had a heart the size of the entire state,” Stone said.
...“He moved forward to cover his brothers,” Izzo said. “He advanced into hostile fire. Sometimes, even when you do everything right, the enemy slips one by.”
Barely a week later, Vaughn's parents and his brother, Clifford, drove from their home in Santee to Gillespie Field to meet his coffin. The family held a memorial service with full military honors April 17.
Vaughn's parents plan to scatter his ashes in the surf at La Jolla on his birthday, July 19.
Vaughn had no illusions about the dangerous work he chose. He told his parents what he wanted for them if he died in combat.
“He made us promise it wouldn't ruin our lives,” James Vaughn said. “I don't know how that's going to work out.”

MILBLOGGLING

Mystery Blogs Engage in Heated Debate -- [Greyhawk]
The Wall Street Journal:
The Pentagon says it isn't formally considering a change in policy at this point, but Mr. Gates's comments sparked a heated debate on military blogs, message boards and email lists.
That caught me by surprise - I rarely discover something "military blogs" are engaged in "heated debate" on via the Wall Street Journal - usually I hear of the debate on actual military blogs first (and I never see those debates migrate to the mainsteam media).
So I checked the invaluable blog search engine technorati, in hopes of discovering these military blogs I hadn't discovered yet. To my surprise, I found the only citations of this particular topic were from blogs referencing this Wall Street Journal article - I could find none that preceded it, and couldn't find any milblogs among those that followed.
But I suppose that "military blogs" offering "heated debate" on a topic somehow validate it as significant, so the line appears in the article.
By the way, here's the topic: ...

Nurses and Milblogs -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
I put out the question on why there were so many nurses interested in milblogs (Ms. Robin and Ms. Sisu come to mind). Cathy B., a friendly face around here, responds:

Welcome to BlogWorld & New Media Expo -- [BlogWorld]
The 2008 BlogWorld & New Media Expo will take place September 20-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with the exclusive "Executive & Entrepreneur" conference beginning September 19th. The first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media. In addition to the only industry-wide exhibition, BlogWorld features the largest blogging conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business. If you are currently blogging, vlogging, podcasting, producing other forms of new media content, entering the new media industry, or just want to know what the blogosphere is all about, then you need to be at the most comprehensive blogging convention--BlogWorld & New Media Expo. Located in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at: 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Milblogs at Columbia University -- [Matt Sanchez]
Today, I was at Columbia University to take care of some paper work for the upcoming semester. At the home of the Pulitizer Prize, I stopped by to do an interview with members of the Columbia Journalism School.
Mainstream journalism has a reluctant relationship with bloggers, but the situation becomes even more ambiguous when military bloggers or milbloggers give the depictions and details that the mainstream either misses or neglects. At the Columbia Journalism School, this afternoon, we covered life as an embed, censure, bias, freedom of speech, perception and objectivity. As both a war correspondent and a military blogger, I straddled the line between two worlds. Journalism students have much theory, but there really is no substitute for actually reporting from the frontlines.

THE MEDIA

Olbermann Accuses Bush of 'Murderous Deceit,' Should 'Shut the Hell Up' -- [NewsBusters]
On Wednesday's Countdown, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann's latest "Special Comment" attack on President Bush accused the President of "panoramic and murderous deceit," and of "creating" an America that "includes 'cold-blooded killers who will kill people to achieve their political objectives,'" contending that "they are those in, or formerly in, your employ, who may yet be charged some day with war crimes." He further accused Bush, whom he referred to as having an "addled brain," of "laying waste to Iraq to achieve your political objectives" in an "insurance-scam, profiteering, morally bankrupting war."

Stephen King’s Third Explanation Still Unapologetic to Military -- [NewsBusters]
It appears three times isn't a charm for horror author Stephen King, who in his third attempt at explaining his peculiar remarks about people who can't read ending up in the Army still couldn't muster the strength to apologize to those he's offended.
I guess in his world, literacy means never having to say you're sorry.

Unbelievable Spin in Time Article on al-Sadr's 'Cease Fire' -- [American Thinker - Rick Moran]
It just doesn't get any more blatantly biased than this. Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed to a cease fire in Sadr city and correspondent Mark Kukis writes the story as if al-Sadr is "the winner."

More Military Doom and Gloom from AP -- [NewsBusters]
Amid talk among the mainstream media of a sinking economy in which the elderly must live in vans and others cannot afford to drive 35 miles to church on Sundays, the Associated Press did note a drop in unemployment from 2006 to 2007. But even that news was buried in a story about the military and was used to explain trouble had in meeting recruiting goals.

World Premiere -- [Outside the Wire]
Danger Close', the documentary that grew from my filming of a fire-fight between U.S. Army Paratroopers and Al Qaida is having its film festival debut this Friday in Washington, D.C.
The GI Film Festival, at the Carnegie Institute, will screen 'Danger Close' at 3:30pm Friday .
David and I will be there to take part in a discussion after the screening.
Be warned, 'Danger Close' is not for the faint of heart. It is real live combat that I filmed--the bullets, blood and bad guys are all real.
'Danger Close' is also one of the most pure forms of documentary you may ever see. I captured the fire-fight as it erupted around me and conducted the interviews with the Paratroopers who won the fight the next day. No studio inteviews. No re-enactments. No script. No pre-determined plot. And no idea if I would even live through it.
Just the story of a group the Paratroopers who literally stood on the wall and fought the enemies of Western Civilization

POLITICS

McCain: U.S. can win Iraq war within four years -- [Reuters]
Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Thursday he believes the Iraq war can be won within four years, leaving a functioning democracy there and allowing most U.S. troops to come home.

Chelsea Clinton Can't Campaign On Base -- [Fox News]
The U.S. Navy has denied Chelsea Clinton permission to campaign for her mother on a former bombing range on a small Puerto Rican island.
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign wanted to use the land Wednesday as a setting to discuss the candidate’s clean up plan for the region and call to give some areas to local residents.
But Navy spokeswoman Lt. Lara Bollinger said no one is allowed to campaign on federal property.
Chelsea Clinton is making her second campaign visit to Puerto Rico in the last three weeks. The U.S. territory has 55 delegates at stake in its June 1 Democratic primary.
The Navy closed the range in Vieques in April 2003 following years of protests after two errant bombs killed a security guard.

Obama Gaffes on Iraq and Afghanistan -- [ABC News blog]
Barack Obama spent yesterday trying not to think of West Virginia, making an appearance instead in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where Obama won the primary in February. He also forgot a couple of facts about Iraq and Afghanistan, making two large factual errors and setting off a dispute between his campaign and ABC News. Unfortunately, their rebuttals raised even more questions about Obama’s grasp on facts in the wars (via Memeorandum):
Obama posited — incorrectly — that Arabic translators deployed in Iraq are needed in Afghanistan — forgetting, momentarily, that Afghans don’t speak Arabic.
“We only have a certain number of them and if they are all in Iraq, then its harder for us to use them in Afghanistan,” Obama said. ….
No sooner did Obama realize his mistake — and correct himself — but he immediately made another.
“We need agricultural specialists in Afghanistan, people who can help them develop other crops than heroin poppies, because the drug trade in Afghanistan is what is driving and financing these terrorist networks. So we need agricultural specialists,” he said.
So far, so good.
“But if we are sending them to Baghdad, they’re not in Afghanistan,” Obama said.
Iraq has many problems, but encouraging farmers to grow food instead of opium poppies isn’t one of them. In Iraq, oil fields not poppy fields are a major source of U.S. technical assistance.
...UPDATE: Bill Burton, Obama campaign spokesperson, disputes this report, writing in to say,...

Obama stumbles on Iraq, Afghanistan -- [Hot Air - Ed Morrissey]
...David Wright responds by noting a couple of other points that seem to escape Camp Obama. One, the only people speaking Arabic in Afghanistan are the people shooting at NATO troops. The people whom we want to engage to rebuild Afghanistan don’t speak Arabic. Second, the US usually uses locals as translators, so we didn’t rob Peter to pay Paul in translators by invading Iraq, despite Obama’s spurious claims.
...Obama’s rhetoric calls into question whether he has any real knowledge of the issues in either Iraq or Afghanistan in any depth beyond that of the latest MoveOn talking points.

Senate Seeks 3.9% Military Pay Boost -- [Military.com]
Senate lawmakers proposed a higher-than-requested 3.9 percent pay raise for all military personnel in their first draft of the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill. The 3.9 percent pay raise, 0.5 percent above what defense officials requested, is designed to further close the gap between military and civilian pay. If passed, the pay raise would be the highest for troops since 2004. For an E-4 with four years military service, the Senate plan would mean an increase of $79.86 a month, about $10 more than the Pentagon plan. For an O-4 with four years, it would be $189.25 a month, about $24 more monthly.

Obama Goes for Joe -- [Greyhawk]
That's G.I. Joe - but who knows where Joe goes come November?
Barack Obama's brief appearance in West Virginia should serve as a warning to John McCain. The Charleston, West Virginia Gazette headlines their story on his appearance there "Obama pushes for new GI Bill":

Gaza's Obama campaign

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

When Good Comments Go Bad -- [Jawa Report]
It seems I went off my rocker today.
It started with a bad mood caused by learning of a Pally-Rally to be held in my hometown tomorrow, and culminated in a severe case of blogarrhea in the comment on one of Howie's posts.
I just couldn't stop myself.
After apologizing to Howie for going ape-sh** in his comments, it was suggested by a couple of my fellow Jawa co-bloggers that I should post my commentary on the front page, rather than consigning it to Haloscan comments on an already forgotten thread.

(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)

Barack Obama's brief appearance in West Virginia should serve as a warning to John McCain. The Charleston, West Virginia Gazette headlines their story on his appearance there "Obama pushes for new GI Bill":

"I'm honored that some of you will support me, and I understand that many more here in West Virginia will probably support Senator Clinton," he told the crowd at the Civic Center.

"But when it's over, what will unify us as Democrats - what must unify us as Americans - is an unyielding commitment to the men and women who've served this nation and an unshakable fidelity to the ideals for which they've risked their lives."

In response, McCain and other Republicans are busy creating "kick me" signs to wear throughout the upcoming political season.

The proposed 21st Century GI Bill would allow soldiers to receive free tuition for college. Obama said it is one of a number of upgrades to GI benefits and healthcare the federal government should provide.

"It would provide every returning veteran with a real chance to afford a college education, and it would not harm retention," Obama told about 1,500 people at the Charleston Civic Center. After that, he stopped to shoot a game of pool with a veteran at a South Charleston pub.

The Illinois Democrat said McCain, whom he added he greatly respects as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, doesn't like the new plan.

"He is one of the few senators of either party who oppose this bill because he thinks it's too generous," Obama said. "I couldn't disagree more.

"At a time when the skyrocketing cost of tuition is pricing thousands of Americans out of a college education, we should be doing everything we can to give the men and women who have risked their lives for this country the chance to pursue the American dream."

Here's a comparison of the competing GI Bills in Stars and Stripes - the semi-independent military newspaper. Note that in addition to Senator Obama, mainstream veterans' groups (including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars) have strongly endorsed the Webb bill.

If McCain doesn't act fast (specifically, endorse the Web bill before this issue expands nationwide) my forecast will prove correct. And once newspapers and evening news stories begin headlining the growing (and glowing) military (bear in mind that active duty folks won't be specifically endorsing candidates) and veteran support for Obama a cascade among other voters (at least those swayed by military-related issues; war for example) is likely to begin. Talking points, sincere explanations, and rationalizations won't change that at all.

Previous entries (please read before explaining to me how little I know about this issue)

GI Bill for the 21st Century

How Republicans "lost" the Military Vote

Update: The New GI Bill

Good News/Bad News

G.I. wish I could go to college

IRAQ

Mother's Day Shoutouts -- [Task Force Marne - in Iraq]
Task Force Marne Soldiers' Mother's Day Greetings
View Download: MSG Marca Triggs, SSG Jusin Espinosa, SSG Matthew Love, MAJ Alayne Conway, CPL Pedro Muriel, CPL Pedro Muriel 2, MSG Reginald Creech, MSG Raney Young, MSG Rietta Owens, CPT Valerie Foddrill, CPT Pete Christake, LTC Ross Flavel, LTC Ross Flavel 2, MAJ Gail Evans, MAJ Gail Evans 2, MAJ Vinston Porter, MAJ Vinston Porter 2, MAJ Vinston Porter 3, SPC Amie McClintic, SSG Gerald Vance , SGT Carl Cueliar, MSG Laura Paz, SPC Waldemar Madsen, SPC Jessica Stockton-Nugent , MAJ Portia Benson, MAJ Randy Edwards, SGT Cole Hawkins, SGT Cole Hawkins 2, SPC Tazanyia Mouton, MAJ Jay Hearn, SFC Gregory Dorsey, SFC Kito Queen, SPL Thomas Toomey, SSG David Ortiz, SSG Enrico Mascino, SSG Timothy Eye

One Deep Breath -- [Toby Nunn - in Kuwait]
There has always been something weighing very heavy on my heart from the second I walked off the Bus at Camp Roberts in California. I looked at the motley crew of men that were potentially going to be under my charge and wondered who wouldn’t make it. I tried harder than ever before to truly look into the eyes of each soldier so that if I lost them or I should perish my memory and what I could have or would have said would be presented in one form or another. The awesome responsibility perhaps held me down sometimes while others it helped me soar above and fight harder for them and or what I thought was right by them.
Yesterday, I looked at the sun that fittingly was setting over the chain linked and razor wire fence that separates Iraq and Kuwait. As the sun was lowering itself in the sky I watched the remaining Bad Voodoo members still in combat leave the enemy territory for the last time. It was like an Old Western with the good guys riding off into the sunset. I was proud and found myself in a moment similar to LTG (ret) Hal Moore on that fateful day in Vietnam who hit the battlefield first and was the last to leave.

Live from Iraq: MG Rick Lynch -- [Castle Argghhh! - FBL]
I’m convinced, more than ever, that the people of Iraq want what you and I want.
Last Thursday I spoke by phone with Major General Rick Lynch, Commanding General, 3rd Infantry Division (Multi-National Division - Central), currently in Iraq. He answered questions for about 35 minutes, discussing the current security situation, redevelopment efforts, the strains of long/repeated deployments and his attitude toward media outreach. I did not bring up the issue of Iranian influence in Iraq, as he recently spoke about that in great detail here. 3ID is headquarters for MND-C, with an area of operations beginning on the southern edge of Baghdad province and continuing south through Karbala and Najaf, stretching from Iraq's eastern to western border.

MG Lynch, Part II: Security -- [Castle Argghhh! - FBL]
As outlined in Part I, the shift in security in 3ID's Area of Operations since they arrived has been startling. The biggest reason attacks are down to less than two per day is that there are simply fewer hardliners left to cause problems. In the last year, reports MG Lynch, 3ID has killed or captured over 6,000 al Qaeda terrorists and insurgents in the AO. But though attacks are down sharply, Lynch refers to the security situation as "tenuous" because he considers the enemy still capable of isolated spectacular attacks such as lethal bombings.
...I also asked MG Lynch if he believes the AO has "turned a corner," that if current troop levels and Iraqi capabilities were unchanged there would be no going back to the violence and chaos of the past. He declined to use such language, but he is obviously optimistic. "We’re working towards irreversible momentum," he replied. "And we’re close to that."

ISF, SOI Presence Allows Families to Begin Moving Home -- [MNF-I]
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — Two years ago, al-Qaeda destroyed the Chalabi village in the Sayafiyah region. A Shia tribe in a predominately Sunni area, the Chalabis fled to Mahmudiyah, Baghdad and other surrounding areas.
About four months ago, Coalition forces entered the area and set up Sons of Iraq security and Iraqi Army checkpoints. Soon after, Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), discovered residents had returned to the area.
“These families had heard from word of mouth that the area was now secure so now they are back,” said Capt. Joe Johnson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-187th Inf. Regt.

Small town values help in Iraq -- [Regimental Combat Team 5 - in Iraq]
CAMP RIPPER, Iraq — Hometown values are prominent in these two Schuylkill County, Penn., natives.
The odds of two people from the same small county near Philadelphia working side by side in a foreign country are odds many people wouldn’t bet on.

Iraqi lawmakers, Sadrists sign four-day cease-fire -- [AP]
Mahdis sign over Sadr City to Maliki, victory celebrations in media pending
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Representatives of firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and lawmakers from Iraq's main Shiite political bloc signed a four-day cease-fire Monday in an effort to end seven weeks of fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City slum.
It was unclear if the agreement would be respected by all the extremists who have been fighting in Sadr City. Al-Sadr is thought to have influence over some of the militants, but not all of them. Many of those fighting Iraqi and U.S. forces are thought to have splintered away from al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.

Iraq Briefing - 12 May 2008

And The Rockets Red Glare.... -- [False Motivation - in Iraq]
The bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night.... So, as those of you who read Suspect's blog already know: we endured another indirect fire attack here on our FOB. Al Qaeda does not care that I'm going home soon, those insensitive bastards. Of course my friends and I all joke about it. What else do you do? You drive on, sure it's scary as all hell and as you hear the first whizz and whistle, followed by the boom, all you envision is it hitting your location. You vividly see the explosion, your reaction, your friends' injuries all in your mind. Again, screw you AQI, I hate you.

U.S. and Iraqi Troops Take Fire in Sadr City -- [DVIDS]

Living the Dream -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
So we got a break from the 110 temps. Last night a kick in the butt sand storm hit and visibility was slim. The enemy is frustrated and can't stand that every time they turn around there is a Marine there. We thwarted a complex ambush last week as we patrolled with the Iraqi's. They are getting stronger by the day and before you know it, they will ask us to leave. They have become so much stronger since my last deployment here it would truly astonish you. We had a young Marine get informed that he is now a dad. Proud and a bit different now that he knows he is a dad shows the true caliber of these studs over here. They too should make you proud.
They continue to put in long days, bear the difficult environment and continue to accomplish the mission. All are in good spirits because they see first hand the difference they are making.

Bradley Crushes Insurgent Car - Iraq

Day Trip to Sadr City -- [INDC Journal - in Iraq]
...Some of the cops are "eager to learn" but many "won't say" where they live, added 1-91 MP Sergeant Travis Sand. He describes his unit's mission as "trying to build up the local area, to make a better workspace for [the Iraqi Police] and us."
The busy surrounding area is urban residential, with a few shops and other businesses. The streets have been closed to vehicle traffic, spurring interaction between walking citizens and patrolling American units.
"They seem interested to meet you, to get to know us," said Sand. "Not a lot of frowns or anything, a lot of smiles. When I talked to a few of the people, they want peace, and they are more glad we're here and that we're trying to work on a solution."
He said the locals studiously avoid mentioning the Mahdi Army, which continues to take heavy losses in daily conflict with US and Iraqi forces.

After Al-Qaeda Life Returns to Hawr Rajab -- [Live Leak]
Please visit http://aliveinbaghdad.org for new videos from Iraq each week!

Hawr Rajab, Iraq - If you’ve ever wondered what its like to live in a village under the sway of insurgents, criminals, or Al-Qa’eda, today you’ll hear about it from the survivors themselves. The criminal and terrorist gangs controlling Hawr Rajab imposed tight curfews and “justice” based on their regressive interpretation of Islam.
Civilians told horror stories of being afraid to leave their homes for fear of retribution. According to one member of the Sahwa, those who smoked regularly could have their fingers amputated or their tongue burned. Many other residents, Sunni and Shi’a alike, fled the neighborhood to other nearby areas, such as Abu Dsheer and Mahmoudiya. Shekih Al-Ma’eini told Nabeel Kamal that the residents of Abu Dsheer and other areas deserved great thanks for their willingness to support the residents of Hawr Rajab with shelter and food.
Once the situation had calmed, Sheikh Malik, the district representative of Hawr Rajab worked with Sheikh Al-Ma’eini and others to begin implementing a reconstruction plan for the area. Young men who formally fought against the United States or terrorized their neighbors are finding work clearing wreckage and paving main roads in the village. Many of the men working for the Sahwa Councils, or “Concerned Local Citizens” as the United States military often calls them, openly admit they once fought the United States and Coalition Forces. One of the most interesting things happening in Hawr Rajab is that animosity against the United States appears to have been subsumed by a desire to attain real reconciliation within their communities.

Operations continue in Sadr City -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
US and Iraqi forces continue to strike at the Mahdi Army in Baghdad despite the agreement reached between the Iraqi government and the Mahdi Army late Friday. Seventeen Mahdi Army fighters were killed in northeastern Baghdad over the past 24 hours.
Multinational Forces Iraq indicates the building of the wall and operations against the "Special Groups" will continue despite the cease-fire. EFPs are "the number one killer of our soldiers" in Baghdad.

Iraqi Army desecrates Mahdi bodies (graphic video) -- [BlackFive - Uncle Jimbo]
Many like to smear the US and our troops as jack-booted thugs who routinely torture, kill and mutilate innocents; there could hardly be a more inaccurate portrayal. I have seen far too many examples of man's inhumanity to man and shockingly it was always someone other than our folks. This footage is revolting and the Iraqi government needs to take control of their troops. Parading the bodies of your enemies around may be a disgusting, ages-old tradition but we are destroying any number of ages-old traditions in Iraq.

The Montagues and the Capulets -- [Kaboom - in Iraq]
Evenings spent at Sheik Stack-On-Me’s compound never fail to entertain. The old man, despite his questionable loyalties and general creepiness, has that fatalistic flair for melodrama many of his countrymen share. In addition to his Thighmaster fetish, his Sheikliness has a weakness for all things caramel, regales us with old soldier stories from the Iran-Iraq War in the eighties, and blames all violence in history on feminine wiles. (Normally, I’m all for sweeping misogynistic rants, but considering the Arab tradition of not allowing their women outside of the house, I don’t follow his logic. It’s not like war is crashing the party here in Mesopotamia, two hours after the keg got tapped.) Perhaps not so