Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho

Thought I'd stick one of my Dawn Patrols up here that I'm doing for the Mudville Gazette...they're so much work I might as well add my work to my own blog while I'm doing it So, enjoy the news!

IRAQ

On Patrol --[MREater - in Iraq]
I went on a presence patrol into Kirkuk. After a little stutter-step getting going, we got off, though a bit late. That’s okay as we try to vary our routine anyway, so being late works toward that end. It was bad news for our interpreter, though. He just got married, in June, and his bride was expecting him by a set time.

Let's Focus on the Bad News in Iraq --[Graham's Journal - in Iraq]
Whatever you call them, the Cons, or Righties, or Reds complain about how the media never reports on the good news in Iraq. These people speak for half the country. And they've decided what the major issue should be. They've decided that this half of the country shouldn't focus on the bad news. Neither should they focus on the good news. Instead, they should focus on what the media is focusing on.

Meanwhile, the Libs, or Lefties, or Blues have focused on what is truly important to the people of Iraq today. The fact that no WMD's were found two years ago. They sound just like a broken record. WMD's. WMD's. WMD's.

The More Things Change... --[Soldier's Mom]
While our soldier son is home (unexpectedly) from Iraq, we still have the rest of Our Guys to worry about... Sent off packages late last week and have a few more ready to go... and we haven't heard from any of the Guys since last Monday when they called and spoke with Noah.. they haven't even been online so I'm worried...

A story from a Army journalist who was in Iraq! --[Soldiers Angels Germany]
What if you're an Army journalist and expected to put the war in Iraq in a good light — no matter what you see? Between March 12, 2004, and February 2, 2005, I found myself in that uneasy situation....

Iraqi Success Story --[GreenZone - New Milblogger in Iraq]
I attended the Town Hall meeting for the IZ on Saturday. This is a monthly meeting for the contractors, civilians, foreign nationals and others who live in the International Zone.

Richard the Medic in Iraq --[Soldiers Angel - Holly Aho]
There is something to be said about the hospitality of the people here. Whenever we go anywhere, like to the FPS stations, here of late, the Iraqis there only want to feed us and give us chia tea to drink-of which I am a big fan.

I have noticed they have strange job qualifications at the Iraqi Police stations, and such places: like "station farmer." No kidding ya'll, this is a bona-fide official position at the Iraqi police stations all over the entire country of Iraq!

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Attacks in Iraq Kill 9 Americans, Including State Dept. Aide --[NY Times]
In one of the most lethal stretches for Americans in Iraq in recent months, nine soldiers and security officers were killed in four attacks in the past two days.

Iraqi PM to meet Britain's defense chief after raid --[Reuters]
Iraq's prime minister was to meet Britain's defense secretary in London on Wednesday with both countries working to quell tension caused by a British military raid that freed two soldiers held by Iraqi militiamen.

AFGHANISTAN

Germany expands army presence in Afghanistan --[Soldiers Angels Germany]
The German coalition government (Social Democratic Party—SPD—and the Green Party) has decided to expand its military presence in Afghanistan. Defence Minister Peter Struck (SPD) wants to supplement the Bundeswehr (armed forces) contingent from 2,250 to 3,000 soldiers. A special sitting of the German parliament at the beginning of October will debate the necessary resolution.

Reason, flag, posters and Freedom Watch --[Going Down Range - in Afghanistan]
This is why I and many more are here in Afghanistan. I want to make sure that my children do not have to make this decision.

Today I was one of many raising the US flag above the Taliban Last Stand (TLS) building.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Japan to Extend Afghan Troop Aid Mission --[AP]
Japan intends to extend its mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan for another year, the government's spokesman said Wednesday.

Rumsfeld Applauds Afghan Elections --[AP]
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday acknowledged that Afghanistan is still battling a lethal rebel opposition but applauded the country's parliamentary elections as a historic step.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Gee, thanks, Ted --[Riding Sun]
Wolf Blitzer interviewed Ted Turner on Monday about the recent North Korean negotiations (via Radio Blogger, who also has audio.) In the course of the interview, Turner claimed that North Korea isn't much of a threat...

North Korea Renegs on Deal Already --[GI Korea Blog]
Not that this is a surprise or anything but the Norks are already back pedaling on the deal they struck 24 hours ago...

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

North Korea says US using talks as pretext for attack --[Reuters]
North Korea accused the United States on Wednesday of using diplomatic talks to try and take away its nuclear arms so that Washington could crush the reclusive state with an atomic weapons strike.

HURRICANE(S)

Faulty Towers --[Media Blog]
What did I say about most of what we thought we knew after week one turning out to be wrong?

Don't Get Stuck on Stupid --[GI Korea Blog]
Honore: "You are stuck on stupid. I'm not going to answer that question. We are going to deal with Rita. This is public information that people are depending on the government to put out. This is the way we've got to do it..."

MSM REPORTS ON HURRICANE(S)

Evacuees of One Storm Flee Another in Texas --[NY Times]
Hurricane Rita prompted a mandatory evacuation of this city's public shelters on Tuesday, emptying them as quickly as they had filled just three weeks ago and sending still-dazed survivors of Hurricane Katrina packing off to Arkansas, to the bus terminal, to the airport and, for some who considered themselves lucky, to paid and furnished apartments here in the Houston area.

Rita now Category 4 hurricane --[Reuters]
After lashing the Florida Keys, Hurricane Rita was upgraded on Wednesday into a more powerful Category 4 storm as it headed across the Gulf of Mexico on a course that could take it to Texas and dump more rain on Katrina-battered Louisiana.

TERRORISM

Its time to Put Yasin Al Kadi Out of Business! --[The Counterterrorism Blog]
This note follows up on Doug Farah’s and Evan Kohlmann’s excellent posts concerning the US Treasury designation of Dr. Abdul Latif Saleh, a close business associate of Saudi billionaire Yasin Al Kadi (aka al-Qadi).

MSM REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Australian's Terrorism Trial to Resume --[AP]
The Pentagon cleared the way on Tuesday for resuming the Guantanamo Bay terrorism trial of David M. Hicks, an Australian charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and aiding the enemy.

EU court says bloc can freeze terrorist assets --[Reuters]
The European Union can freeze assets of suspected terrorists, the bloc's second highest court ruled on Wednesday, dismissing complaints from alleged al Qaeda associates whose bank accounts were blocked by the EU.

U.N. Report Warns of More Terrorists --[AP]
Al-Qaida has spawned a so-called "third generation" of followers skilled in urban warfare and suicide bombings and U.N. sanctions need to be updated to keep up with the changing tactics, a report warned Tuesday.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Becoming an Angel --[Whispering Wolf - new blogger]
I recently joined Soldiers' Angels.
From the moment I first learned of the group, I knew I had to join. There was question in my mind.
There has always been a special place in my heart for military personnel...

Letter from another Angel's soldier --[Soldiers Angel - Holly Aho]
Coming back to my civilian occupation, I can say I have been changed. Yes, Iraq has changed me as uniquely as war changes all who take part in it. However, I have been humbled by the overwhelming support from strangers. From the many gifts and letters I have received from people I have never met; to all of those patriotic Americans I met coming off the plane on R&R.

MSM REPORTS ON SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS...OR NOT

Battle Lines Behind the Battle Lines --[Washington Post]
In military communities across the United States, a debate over the Iraq war is being waged by reluctant, neophyte activists. Their microphones chirp and squeak, or don't pick up their quiet voices at all. Their signs are too small. They forget the banners.
"This is my community. I don't want to offend people here. But my husband is a soldier; he can't say anything. So it's my duty as a citizen to speak up,"

MILITARY

More On The USS Virginia Deployment --[The Stupid Shall be Punished]
Earlier, I mentioned the USS Virginia (SSN-774) had deployed much earlier in their post-commissioning cycle than normal. We now learn more about the "deployment" from Bob Hamilton of The New London Day (who, along with Christopher Drew at the NYT, is a submarine military writer who makes it worth your while to get the annoying free registration required to read their work after a day or so -- a longer lasting version of the article can be found here, second article down...

Muddle in the Middle --[Molten Thought]
The most successful educational system in the United States is the basic training program employed by the U.S. armed forces. Over the course of just a few months they routinely take soft civilians and turn them into the most lethal soldiers the world has ever known. They do so by demanding unrelenting high performance, and by being brutally intolerant of failure.

Heroes --[Way Down in Kosovo]
In the past week two great heroes passed away, men as different in background as two men can be, yet both of them ultimately surrendering huge portions of their lives in service to others.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Military: Gitmo Hunger Strike Loses Steam --[AP]
The number of detainees on a hunger strike at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay has fallen by almost two-thirds since last week, a military official said Tuesday.

POLITICS

The War Within --[Dadmanly - in Iraq]
It’s perhaps inevitable that Government spending, and particularly money directed at poverty, is measured in quantity and not quality of effective results. Nevertheless, as Schulz points out a question that may be obvious, but rarely uttered in the corridors of public policy...

Tone Deaf or Brain Dead --[Balloon Juice]
For months I have heard Harry Reid fashioned as a moderate or centrist Democrat, so it simply makes no sense to me why he would be opposing John Roberts.

She's Baaack... --[Two Babes and a Brain]
Well it seems that Cindy Sheehan didn't like getting upstaged and pushed out of the MSM spotlight by Hurricane Katrina...
But she's not going after President Bush now. She's going after Hillary...with vengeance.

A Nutty Ex-President, But A Safe Bet? --[The American Princess]
Well, you just can't help but love Bill Clinton.
The man can barely accept irrelevance and resign himself to the million dollar speaking circuit for a few years before deciding that his opinion somehow matters to the rest of the world to a degree that he needs to air it, in public, on a nationally syndicated news program.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Reid seeks 'mainstream' nominee for US court --[Reuters]
U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he will ask President George W. Bush on Wednesday that his second nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court be "mainstream, not extreme."

THE MEDIA

Useful Idiot: Ted Turner --[GI Korea Blog]
Is there any doubt now that Ted Turner is a Useful Idiot? Check out this interview with Wolf Blitzer on the Radio Blogger...

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

'Ugly' woman sues TV show in death of sister --[Reuters]
A Texas woman has sued ABC's popular reality show "Extreme Makeover" for more than $1 million claiming among other things that an abrupt cancellation of her appearance on the program led to her sister's death.

Son lived with dead mother to keep pension --[Reuters]
A Frenchman in his sixties lived for five years with the body of his dead mother to keep receiving her 700 euros monthly pension, judicial sources said Saturday.

Condoms Are Named for Clinton, Lewinsky --[AP]
A rubber company in China has begun marketing condoms under the brand names Clinton and Lewinsky, apparently seeking to exploit the White House affair that led to the impeachment of America's 42nd president.

Artist died 'handcuffed to tree' --[BBC News H/T Drudge]
The skeleton of Richard Sumner - 47 when he went missing three years ago - was found in a remote area of Clocaenog Forest, Denbighshire, in April 2005.

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)