The Thunder Run

This video is subtitled with English Subtitles !
What you'll see: 2 Mortars attacks on base at night + shootings back with big caliber; French Soldiers helping US soldiers getting ambushed + French troops shooting back

France has been in Afghanistan since 2002.

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

111 Infantry Recon: 5K for Breast Cancer Awareness - Members of the recon platoon recently completed a 5K walk for breast cancer awareness. In recon platoon style, we decided to challenge ourselves and do the walk with ruck sacks. It was a late start - 0700 in the morning. Late start because we had been up the entire night prior on a mission attempting to track down an elusive target (we caught him 3 days later). (READ MORE) (View Photos)

P.J. Tobia: Richard Oppel Perfectly Describes The Government Problem In Afghanistan - Oppel had been in Afghanistan lately. This from today’s Q&A an the NYT: “It was once described to me this way: Say you are a farmer in a rural area and your motorbike is stolen. You can file a complaint with the local prosecutor, who might only have an office in the provincial capital, as it is too dangerous anywhere else. But even if the thief is caught, the authorities may be bribed into releasing him, and if the Talibs discover that you sought help from the government, you and your family are now at risk. On the other hand, if you go to the Talibs for help recovering your bike, you are more likely to get it back.” This is exactly the problem the UN and coalition are having trying to build institutional infrastructure here. (READ MORE)

Iron Camel: Iraqi soccer match defeats terrorists - Every day, explosions happen in and around Baghdad; as well as in other cities around Iraq. Every day, someone is killed. However, for a fleeting moment in time, all danger seemed to cease in the microcosm of the soccer stadium. Inside the stadium, everyone was focused on one of Iraqis favorite activities; enjoying time with friends and family. So, with the smell of victory still in the air, fans poured into the streets cheering and celebrating. On the surface, the celebration painted the sporting victory, but the undertones were of this small defeat against terrorism. Beating terrorism isn’t always tangible. Finding Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), catching terrorists, and finding caches of weapons; are all something that can be counted, touched, and photographed. But it is the act of not emplacing an IED, which cannot be photographed. (READ MORE)

Old Blue: Two Notes of Note - First note: I’m wondering how the world could bleed for Michael Jackson for days on end and miss the passing of Shifty Powers, who was introduced to the world as one of the Band of Brothers. One of these two men demonstrated incredible courage and laid his life on the line for his friends and his country. The other was a rich entertainer with a penchant for plastic surgery. Guess which one passed with almost no fanfare? If you Twitter, please participate in #shiftypowers on Monday. All you have to do is tweet “#shiftypowers” and we will recognize the passing of this American hero. He truly had some incredible experiences and demonstrated, with his brothers, incredible courage. I stand in awe of what those men did. Second note: Afghanistan’s Joint Forces Headquarters is holding a video contest on why Afghanistan matters. If you’ve been to Afghanistan and think it matters, put a vid together and participate. (READ MORE)

Afghanistan My Last Tour: Pre-election security meeting - As United States citizens, voting in elections is one of our constitutional rights. We have a variety of options available to us in how we cast our ballot too. In Afghanistan, voting is now considered a sacred right. Next month on 20 August, over 16 million Afghans are expected to visit the village polling sites throughout the country as they cast their votes for the next President and provincial leadership positions. Unlike in America, the polling stations and ballot boxes here have to be protected with automatic weapons. Today’s mission was to attend a pre-election security meeting. The fear is that the insurgents will attack the polling stations in attempt to disrupt the election process. In support of President Karzai and fair elections, international allies have pledged security and support to protect the polling sites. Without divulging details (OPSEC) our job was to help define these security responsibilities. Our province has 151 polling sites. (READ MORE)

Ann Scott Tyson: Injured Afghans Cautiously Trust Marine Doctors - The young Afghan boy cried silently, his hand bound loosely in bandages. Underneath the wrappings, four of his fingers were severed at the knuckles by a mine he picked up in a field on Wednesday as he gathered grass for his cow. “Are you doing ok?” asked Navy hospital corpsman 2nd class Russell Vinson through an interpreter. Vinson applied a dressing to shrapnel wounds that speckled the boy’s legs. Ibrahim, 15, nodded, wiping away his tears. Afghan civilians with trauma injuries are turning up at least once a week at the U.S. Marine base in Garmsir District seeking care for wounds suffered in criminal attacks, local disputes and past and present wars. The visits reflect both the violence of this volatile town perched on the Helmand River and a cautious trust Afghan civilians place in Marines encamped nearby. (READ MORE)

The Canada-Afghanistan Blog: A Canadian Casualty; A Canadian Poll - A Canadian soldier fell to his death today in Panjwaii. – “Pte. Sébastien Courcy from 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, based in Quebec City, was killed in an incident that occurred approximately 17 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city at around 6 a.m., the military said in a statement.” Earlier today, CBC released a poll showing that 54% of Canadians "oppose" a continued military involvement in Afghanistan. I have to say that number is smaller than I might have expected given the way things have gone in the past year or two. (I've also long been convinced that any poll on an important issue needs to take into account a 10% idiot factor--i.e., if you asked whether President Obama was an alien from Venus, around 10% would answer in the affirmative.) Let's say the question was asked whether Canadian soldiers and police should be training Afghan soldiers and police, helping them become a professional and effective security force--what would the results show? I'm guessing very high, in the 70% range. (READ MORE)

Curmudgeon: An Unlikely Army Chaplain: We get letters.... - When I was discerning whether to seek a commission as an Army Chaplain at such and advanced age, among the myriad concerns which beset me was the fear that my background and experience would be so foreign to that of the people I would attempting to serve that they'd not find my presence and ministry helpful. I recently received a note from a Field Grade Office who's still Down Range, in which he addressed those fears precisely: “One will always wonder what was your calling to join when you did, but I have little doubt you were told and moved out with vigor once you realized it was your calling. St Martin would be happy you did what you did - as would St Loyola himself. Somewhere along your tour here - you became a career warrior as well, and I think you will find it even more so when you are in Kosovo and your experiences are needed to be drawn upon. I think you proved to yourself in this outing that you can do just about anything. With the scope of the mission in Kosovo - I am pretty sure you are going to figure a way to challenge yourself there - and with good results coming from it.” (READ MORE)

Sgt Danger: Why I’m Getting Out - For a couple years now I’ve been trying to decide if I would "re-up" when my enlistment expires. Well, that date came and went during mobilization training in Wisconsin. So if I don’t reenlist while I’m here in Afghanistan, my Army career will be nearly over when the deployment is. Is that what I want? The reenlistment bonus is pretty big right now… and, while in a combat zone, the IRS doesn’t get a penny of it. But for me, it’s not about the money. My proudest time in the service was in June of 2006. Another sergeant (E-5) and I were in charge of leading 14 specialists on a two-week mission in the city of Fallujah. We ran two missions a night, hauling concrete barriers from Iraqi checkpoints back to base. We were professionals, overcoming maintenance, logistical, and tactical obstacles. We slept in our trucks in the city. We drove in blackout with NVGs. We recovered from IED blasts. I loved every minute of it. I’m proud of my profession. So it’s been tough to come to the conclusion that I’m getting out. (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: Haqqani Network threatens to execute captured US soldier - A senior commander in the Haqqani Network has threatened to kill a captured US soldier unless Coalition forces end operations in two districts in Paktika and Ghazni provinces in eastern Afghanistan. Abdullah Jalali, a spokesman for Mullah Sangeen Zadran, who claimed to have captured the soldier in late June, said the US military must end the search operations in the Giro district in Ghazni province and the Khoshamand district in Paktika or the soldier would be killed. Jalali made the statement in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. But Jalali also said the fate of the soldier will ultimately be decided by Mullah Omar, the overall leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The US military has launched an intensive operation in eastern Afghanistan in an effort to recover the soldier, who went missing on June 30 after leaving a small combat outpost in Paktika province along with three Afghan soldiers. (READ MORE)

Notes From Iraq: 16JUL09--Red Pigeons - Today, one of my interpreters explained to me about a common Iraqi hobby: pigeon training. My interpreter tells me that every large city will have pigeons circling the skies in accordance with their training. The flocks will likely contain 'hamrohwees,' which are red pigeons. Apparently, Iraqis will buy pigeons at the market and then train them to fly loops around the city and then return. A keeper may keep one hundred pigeons, and part of the goal to is have other pigeons return with your pigeons, growing one's collection. This is especially true about the pigeons that others' train and keep. Normal gray pigeons are not particularly valuable. However, various varieties can become quite expensive with some fetching $300. Red pigeons, or 'hamrohwees,' are a less common variety. Their name literally stems from the color red, 'hamar.' The pair that I saw today had white streaks on their heads. Since they are impure, they may sell for $50 at the market. (READ MORE)

The Writings of a Man's Man: Rude Awakening - This morning I woke up still tired (due to the shift I work times rotating 6 hours every three days I live in a perpetual state of jet lag, in fact because the shift is 6 on 6 off and it changes opposite every three days it is like going from the US to Japan and back every week) ready to face my shift in the Joint Tactical Operations Center, hopefully in relative silence. I wanted nothing more than an uneventful morning sipping a few cups of freshly brewed French Roast coffee and, once I woke up, to do a little reading if all was quiet. Once I got to the Joint Tactical Operations Center and sat down ready to sip my coffee the delicious and strong brew was immediately overwhelmed by the nauseating stench of the few Iraqis in the room with me. *Note: they do not all smell this bad but some certainly do, so don’t start accusing me of racism until you’ve been over here nose to pit with some of the worst offenders* It was a typical smell for them. (READ MORE)

News from the Front:
Iraq:
Joint Dental Clinic Operation Cleans Teeth, Brightens Smiles of Baghdad Children - BAGHDAD — Dozens of Iraqi children scampered from one station to the next during the first "Smile Day" at the Iraqi Special Operations Forces’ Dental Clinic here, June 28 and 29. A cordial staff of Iraqi dentists and dental hygienists, along with Coalition volunteers, conducted the event that introduced approximately 50 young visitors to dental care. (READ MORE)

Wanted Iraqi Terrorist Apprehended - BAGHDAD — An improvised explosive device cell leader was apprehended during a civil affairs mission just west of here, July 12. The suspected criminal, who admitted he is a member of an insurgency group, had a warrant issued for his arrest by the Government of Iraq. Iraqi Army Soldiers have been actively searching for the terrorist for nearly a week. (READ MORE)

Iraqi Officers Integrate with U.S. Units, Keep Lines of Communication Open - MOSUL — Iraqi Security Force officers were recently brought into the Tactical Operations Centers (TOC) of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team to act as liaison officers. The Iraqis act as a direct line of communication between the 3rd HBCT unit and their own Iraqi parent unit. This increase in communications not only strengthens the bonds between 3rd HBCT and Iraqi forces here, but they also build a flow of information that is timely, direct and allows a faster response by U.S. and Iraq forces when a significant event occurs. (READ MORE)

Ambassador Praises Task Force for Contributions in Iraq - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq, July 16, 2009 – The U.S. ambassador to Iraq met with soldiers and leaders of Task Force Pathfinder here July 12 to thank them for their contributions and to discuss military support of provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq. “What we’re seeing is a crucial year, and it’s good to see the military working with the [provincial reconstruction teams],” Christopher R. Hill said. (READ MORE)

A Shiite Schism On Clerical Rule - NAJAF, Iraq -- As Iran simmers over its disputed presidential election, Shiite clerics in Iraq are looking across the border with a sense of satisfaction that they have figured out a more durable answer to a question that has beset Shiite Islam for centuries: What role should religion play in politics? No one in this city, which stands as the world's most venerable seat of Shiite scholarship, is boasting. Nor is there any swagger among the most senior clerics and their retinue of turbaned students and advisers. (READ MORE)

Kurdish Leaders Warn Of Strains With Maliki - IRBIL, Iraq, July 16 -- Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region and the Iraqi government are closer to war than at any time since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, the Kurdish prime minister said Thursday, in a bleak measure of the tension that has risen along what U.S. officials consider the country's most combustible fault line. In separate interviews, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and the region's president, Massoud Barzani, described a stalemate in attempts to resolve long-standing disputes with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's emboldened government. (READ MORE)


Afghanistan:
Khanjar Operation Marks First of Many Under New Afghan Strategy - WASHINGTON, July 16, 2009 – Defense leaders are encouraged about operations in Afghanistan, but meeting long-term objectives there will require “an enormous” worldwide commitment to train and grow Afghan forces, a Pentagon spokesman said. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates “is encouraged thus far by how things are going operationally” in the U.S. Marine-led offensive that began two weeks ago in Afghanistan’s southern provinces, Geoff Morrell told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing yesterday. (READ MORE)

Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Shares Strategy - KABUL, July 16, 2009 – Patience and time are keys to success in Afghanistan, the commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan told reporters here yesterday. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal discussed his views on what it will take to bring and maintain security in Afghanistan and the importance of helping the Afghans establish governance throughout the provinces. (READ MORE)

Celebrities Entertain Troops in Afghanistan - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 16, 2009 – Celebrities stopped by here yesterday to entertain troops as part of the star-studded USO’s Summer Troop Visit. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the celebrities are travelling throughout the U.S. Central Command area of operations to thank troops for their service and sacrifice. (READ MORE)

Pressure on PM as he ducks Afghanistan troops questions - GORDON BROWN ducked questions yesterday over whether military chiefs had asked for 2,000 extra troops in Afghanistan. Mr Brown’s insistence that Britain has enough soldiers to do the job came as the Commons Defence Select Committee said a shortage of helicopters was undermining the protection of troops in Helmand province. (READ MORE)

Roadside bomb kills 11 civilians in Afghanistan - KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A roadside bomb tore through a vehicle in southern Afghanistan on Friday, killing 11 civilians, including five children, a border police official said. A British solider died in another explosion. The bomb exploded in Kandahar province's Spin Boldak district as the civilians were travelling toward a shrine, said Gen. Saifullah Hakim. (READ MORE)

Gates says Afghan troops may increase - CHICAGO — The Pentagon's chief said Thursday he could send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan this year than he'd initially expected and is considering increasing the number of soldiers in the Army. Both issues reflect demands on the growing stresses of American forces tasked with fighting two wars. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' comments came during a short visit to Fort Drum in upstate New York, an Army post he said has deployed more soldiers to battle zones over the past 20 years than any other unit. (READ MORE)

Afghan blast 'kills at least 11' - At least 11 civilians, including five children, have been killed in a blast in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, officials say. The blast reportedly hit a vehicle travelling towards a shrine in the Spin Boldak district of the province. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Kandahar is regarded as the Taliban's spiritual homeland. (READ MORE)

Judges Don't Belong on the Battlefield - Earlier this year, a Washington D.C.-based federal court extended the constitutional right to habeas corpus to three foreign nationals detained by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The case, Maqaleh v. Gates, represents yet another step in the federal judiciary's transformation from Alexander Hamilton's "least dangerous branch" into a fully active policy maker. Historically, the constitutional right to habeas corpus -- an ancient process permitting prisoners to challenge the legality of their confinement -- was available only to individuals present in the U.S., or to American citizens held by federal authorities overseas. (READ MORE)

Gunmen Kill UN Worker in Pakistan - A senior Pakistani staff member of the United Nations refugee agency was shot and killed Thursday morning in an apparent kidnapping attempt while leaving a refugee camp near this northwestern city, according to UN officials. Zill-e-Usman, 59, was one of three people in a marked United Nations vehicle on their way out of the Katcha Ghari refugee camp about 11:30 a.m. when another vehicle intercepted their path and gunmen opened fire, said Stephanie Bunker, a spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency. (READ MORE)

Taliban Threatens to Kill US Soldier - Local Taliban commanders threatened Thursday to kill a captured American soldier unless the US military stops operations in two districts of southeastern Afghanistan. Also Thursday, Canadian authorities announced that a Canadian soldier was killed southwest of Kandahar, bringing to 47 the number of international troops killed in Afghanistan this month. That makes July the deadliest month of the war for foreign troops - with nearly half the month to go. (READ MORE)

Losses in Afghanistan Stir Anxiety in Britain - Britain buried its highest-ranking army officer to die in combat in nearly three decades Thursday amid a growing public and political outcry over the presence and preparedness of the country's troops in Afghanistan. Lawmakers and ordinary people are angrily questioning whether a lack of helicopters and other equipment have been at least indirectly responsible for a recent wave of combat deaths in Afghanistan, where Britain's deployment of 9,000 soldiers to fight the Taliban has become increasingly unpopular here at home. (READ MORE)

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2009 – Army officials have released the results of a study aimed at determining possible causes for a cluster of violent crimes that took place between 2005 and 2008 at Fort Carson, Colo.

During that time, 10 soldiers from a brigade combat team committed homicide or participated in homicides in and around Colorado. In the same timeframe, four soldiers from other Fort Carson units also committed homicide.

The crimes took place during a busy period of deployments for the brigade. In 2004, a brigade combat team deployed from Korea to Iraq. Upon completion of its tour, the Army permanently stationed the brigade at Fort Carson. Less than a year later, the unit deployed to Iraq for a 15-month tour.

In the 16 cases of murder or attempted murder, 11 of the victims knew the perpetrators. Ten of the victims were male. Further information on the attacks has been withheld for privacy reasons under the Freedom of Information Act.

Army Maj. Gen. Mark A. Graham, Fort Carson’s commander, requested an epidemiological consultation in 2008.

Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric B. Schoomaker discussed the study’s results yesterday with reporters in the Pentagon via telephone. Schoomaker was in Colorado briefing the results of the consultation, which was conducted by the Army surgeon general’s office.

The Army can identify “no single factor or grouping of factors” to explain the cluster of violent crimes committed at Fort Carson, Colo., since 2005, he said.

The study did not reveal any one single cause, but rather a comprehensive list of individual predisposing factors, such as prior criminal behavior, drug or alcohol abuse, prior behavioral issues and barriers to seeking behavioral health care, Graham said.

The surgeon general’s team looked at all risk factors, including the number of deployments, the intensity of combat during those deployments, law or conduct violations, behavioral enlistment waivers, and problems of alcohol and drugs.

“I reiterate: we can find no single factor or grouping of factors to explain these crimes,” Schoomaker said.

Army Secretary Pete Geren was so concerned he asked Lt. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle, the service’s personnel chief, to expand the investigation Armywide to see if deployments, multiple deployments or a policy that permits waivers to allow recruits with a record of misconduct to enlist play any part in violent crime.

“Between 2004 and 2008, 2,726 soldiers were identified as being involved in committing a violent crime, all out of 1.1 million soldiers,” Rochelle said during the conference call. “We examined the correlations and found that enlisted waivers were not -- repeat not -- a disproportionate factor in the commission of violent crimes.”

The service also found that deployments to operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom also were not disproportionate factors in violent crimes.

“In fact, 65 percent of the 2,726 offenders never deployed at all,” Rochelle said.
Rochelle said the service will continue to monitor these statistics and report them to Army leaders. Army officials also will share its conclusions with the other services.

The general stressed that the statistics show the vast number of soldiers at Fort Carson and the rest of the Army are serving honorably and doing well.

Graham said the goal was more than just to study the rates and trends of violent crimes, “but to clearly identify all risk factors, assess the adequacy of all health programs and develop strategy to enhance our resources and support to reduce incidents of violence,” he said.

The command is taking measures to prevent future incidents. “We are training and educating our soldiers and leaders about the warning signs of high-risk behaviors,” Graham said.

The Fort Carson team is working on developing improved and more comprehensive screening to identify soldiers at risk and to follow-up on those high-risk soldiers and units.

Finally, the post is working to eliminate the stigma associated with seeking behavioral health care. “The Army’s new message is that it is a sign of strength, not weakness, to reach out for help for yourself or to escort your battle buddy to care,” Graham said.

U.S. Army Medical Command and post officials learned from the consultation and will make changes, Schoomaker said. “We’ll look at leaders at all levels and the importance of modeling behavior and creating accountability for misconduct,” the surgeon general said.

He called on all soldiers and all small-unit leaders to be more aware of drug and alcohol abuse and other forms of misconduct. Soldiers and leaders need to refer these people for care and rehabilitation, Schoomaker said.

“We will examine the environments where our soldiers live and work to identify risky behaviors and improve these environments and lower these risky behaviors,” he said.

“We need to do better,” Schoomaker said.

By Kimberly Fritz
Special to American Forces Press Service

FORT LEE, Va., July 16, 2009 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Brad Turner, also known as “The Grill Sergeant,” often treats others using his culinary expertise. But recently, Turner got a treat of his own.

Turner recently returned here, where he was once an instructor at the Army Center of Excellence, Subsistence, to film a special for the Food Network -- or so he thought.

With food service training students watching and learning, Turner, who works in the Pentagon’s Executive Dining Facility, began entertaining and engaging the soldiers gathered for a special day of culinary training.

Turner, who is known for singing while he cooks, shared his cooking philosophy and culinary tips, as well as his unique vocabulary. Words like "marinipulating, splaining," and ingredients dubbed "ooh, wee and wow," rolled off his tongue as he cooked. Salt, otherwise known as "ooh;" "wee," known as pepper; and "wow," representing garlic, are staples in most of Turner’s original recipes. Turner asked the audience to help him by shouting "ooh, wee, wow" when he used these ingredients.

The students happily engaged as he prepared the mustard-based marinade for his special "sunshine barbecue chicken." The origin of his marinade came early in his career when a fellow soldier asked Turner to concoct a milder sauce that wouldn't aggravate his fierce heartburn.

As the culinary students watched his every move, Turner didn't miss an opportunity to educate and inspire. He told the students how they are learning the same methods during their training as any other culinary student in the world.

With his chicken on the grill, Turner began preparations for his baby red potato salad when famed Chef Bobby Flay jumped from the back of a tactical vehicle at the field services training area and challenged Turner to a competitive cook-off for an episode of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay," a show that airs on the Food Network.

Turner, astonished at the appearance of one of the world's premier grill chefs, immediately rose to the challenge set before him. Claiming to always be a professional, Turner cited some of the NCO Creed.

"No one is more professional than I," he said.

The set, originally configured for one chef, quickly was transformed into dueling work stations where Flay's team worked to catch up with Turner's progress.

As the two chefs worked over the hot coals of the charcoal grills, culinary students soaked up the delicious aromas and the cooking tips emanating from the two successful chefs.

When the cooking was completed, the dishes were served up, and each soldier sampled the dueling chefs' creations.

Army Brig. Gen. Jesse R. Cross, Quartermaster Center and School commanding general, and Frances Daniel, owner of Mrs. Marshall's Carytown Cafe, served as judges in a blind taste test to determine the winner of the cook-off.

The results are a well-guarded secret that viewers will learn when the show airs later this year.

No matter which recipe and chef won the lighthearted and entertaining battle of the barbecue, the young culinary soldiers walked away winners.

Cross said the students would remember this day for years to come.

"These guys will be cooking their cornbread and their barbecue recipes, and they'll remember they saw Bobby Flay at work," he said.

For Turner, the events of the day didn't quite hit him until he walked away from the set. He was overcome with emotion and overwhelmed at the events.

"When one of your heroes steps around the corner and you're doing what you love to do and they do what you love to do, and then to inspire 100 new soldiers that are going to be in all parts of the world, it's just overwhelming," Turner said. "They saw something today that let them know that anything is possible. Nineteen years ago I was sitting right where they were sitting and someone inspired me."

For a moment he was at a loss for words thinking about the gravity of the event.

"I love what I do," Turner said. "The greatest part of today came when we were cooking and Chef Flay came to the back where I had set my chicken and potato salad down and he ate three more pieces of chicken and dug into the potato salad.

“There is no greater compliment than for someone to genuinely like your food. And he ate it genuinely," he continued. "For me, that was the greatest compliment."

When asked what he thought of Turner's unique recipe, Flay said he loved it.

"I was eating throughout the competition. I kept thinking there was curry or something in it," Flay said. "It had natural heat from the mustard and the brown sugar for the sweet; it was a great balance."

Flay wasn't able to pinpoint the spice he tasted in the marinade until Turner told him.

"Brad told me it was ginger," Flay said. "He shared his secret underlying ingredient."

The consensus of all who gathered to watch the memorable event was that both chefs' dishes and the event were a treat.

Firefight with Canadian forces against Taliban during Operation Zahar, a joint Afghan National army / coalition forces security operation to remove Taliban forces from the Zjarey district.

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

Sour Swinger: Photos From Missions Part 1 - This is the first set of pictures from my platoon conducting missions. Most of these show the greener areas of the farm land found in my units AO (Area of Operation). I picked 5 to show below. Click here to see the entire set. There’s about 50 pics total. (READ MORE)

Michael Yon: Sangow Bar Village - 16 July 2009 Ghor Province, Afghanistan - On a per capita basis, Afghanistan is becoming more dangerous for British and American troops than Iraq ever was. For those who fought in places like Anbar, Basra, Baghdad, Diyala and Nineveh, that’s saying a whole lot. On a per capita basis, there are strong indications that Afghanistan will prove more deadly than Iraq during 2006-2007. One can only imagine how many days and nights Secretary Robert Gates and his advisors must have agonized over troop levels here. On the one hand, we have a fraction of the troops we need, but on the other, increasing troop levels increases hostility toward us. Secretary Gates has made it clear to me that his biggest concern is that we will lose the goodwill of the people and they will turn against us. This happens to be my own biggest concern. The agony is in knowing we need more medicine and the medicine can be highly toxic here. (READ MORE)

P.J. Tobia: Afghan Prez Outlaws Rape (Finally) - Last week I wrote this short essay on the treatment of women in Afghanistan, based on my experiences here and a freshly released UN report. Rather than restate the case I’ll give you the important part: “There isn’t a law against rape in this country, only one for having sex outside of marriage, a crime known as zina. This means that many rape victims are actually punished for being raped. Zina is punishable by death for both parties, but it is more common that the victim be forced to marry her rapist.” A few days after the release of the report, President Hamid Karzai signed a law making rape, forced prostitution, trafficking women for sale into marriage and forcible marriage, explicitly illegal. An Afghan legal scholar tells me that before this law, these things were “against Islam” and therefore perpetrators might be punished. But there was no legal recourse for rape victims until now. (READ MORE)

Old Blue: Twinkling City - I noticed tonight that Kabul twinkles at night. I don’t know what it is, but the lights of Kabul twinkle much like stars embedded in a fabric that climbs up the mountains like a Christmas tree blanket over a tree stand. They are not all the same dull yellowish color or blue-tinted white of American city lights. There seem to be many colors, from bright white to bright red, muted greens and yellowish glares. It almost seems festive, and I ponder the many lives being lived next to the twinkling points; the children growing up in this dusty city heaving itself slowly out of the quagmire of war’s rubble, barely daring to hope for a future with a bit of liberty. It’s too much to consider. I notice an almost ominous glow behind one of the mountains. (READ MORE)

The Canada-Afghanistan Blog: The Afghan Component - Via the NYT: “General McChrystal said the operation’s next stage would be to expand to other important towns in the southern Helmand River valley, to clear out militants there, and hold the reclaimed ground until Afghan civilian authorities and officials could take charge. But moving into these new areas will require more Afghan police officers and soldiers than are currently expected to be available, General McChrystal said. As part of a 60-day mission review, the general said he would recommend expanding the Afghan Army, now scheduled to increase to 134,000 troops. He said he would also seek to speed the process to do that before the scheduled completion date of 2011.” This is a ridiculously obvious thing to point out, but expanding the ANA and speeding up the process of training the recruits isn't something you can just decree. Training soldiers from scratch takes a long, long, long time. McChrystal is clearly right in the sentiment, because there will never be enough international soldiers to properly secure Afghanistan--but damn, we're a long way off from being able to reap the benefits of this. (READ MORE)

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan: 'It was like Saving Private Ryan': British soldier recalls Helmand rocket grenade - A British soldier injured in fierce fighting in the biggest offensive against the Taliban since the start of the conflict in 2001 has given a first-hand account of his ordeal. Trooper Anthony Matthews, 20, of the Light Dragoons, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade during Operation Panther's Claw in Helmand province last week. He described how he managed to apply a tourniquet to his leg wound and to that of an injured comrade as he returned gunfire. On that day, 7 July, Matthews's close friend Christopher Whiteside, 22, was killed by an improvised bomb in a separate operation in Gereshk. Matthews, nicknamed "Bulletproof Tony", has returned home to Dunston, Gateshead, with a cricket ball-sized wound after a month of fighting that has claimed the lives of 17 British soldiers. (READ MORE)

In Iraq Now (at 56): Calling Home During Viet Nam - My Uncle Jack who served in Viet Nam and other parts of South East Asia for several years between 1965 and 1974, had this response to my post on stress: “I was intrigued by your blog about stress. This is completely opposite my experience during remote interludes in the years 1965 to 1974. As late as 1974 calling home from Thailand was impossible. When if you got to the Philippines you had an opportunity. Even then it was a hassle: Go to a special location, file a request with a clerk to call a certain stateside number, then wait. When the call went through you'd be summoned and directed to a booth to which the call would be connected. Then for, as I recall, a dollar a minute you could talk for a limited time, say ten minutes. Pretty much things were even worse in Greenland and other garden spots SAC (Strategi Air Command) populated. There was no internet/email. In those circumstances it was impossible to be involved in the daily life of your family at home. They had to solve their own problems--or, more likely, create them.” (READ MORE)

Jalalabad Fab Lab blog: FabFi Workshop in Jalalabad - Some local users, including some super long term expats, participated in a FabFi build and configure workshop. We cut out and painted up a few reflector sets before hand to make the build go a little faster. In all, 4 more FabFi nodes were made and added to the network. The public hospital was kind enough to allow us the use of an office and conference room for the assembly and router configuration. Half of the pairs have to be installed on the water tower at the hospital, anyway, so it’s a logical and convenient location to have everyone meet. It’s also really easy to get to for everyone since most everyone lives much closer to the city than to the FabLab. Turns out it is possible to put Kenny’s “it only goes together one way” reflector together incorrectly. It doesn’t quite go together right but all the pieces get used… (READ MORE)

SFC Burke - My Point of View: Edgar Allan Poe Works Magic in Baghdad - Did that title catch your attention?? "...let me tell you how healthily, how calmly I can tell you this story..." Since I've started to take over the English portion of the GT Improvement class, I noticed that students have to read passages and then answer questions about main idea, author's point of view, or what a word means in a sentence. They also have the word knowledge portion where they get a word in a sentence and have to pick out the one-word definition from the four answer choices below. One of the small passages on their last homework assignments was the first two paragraphs of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart. Now, if you ever talk to one of my former students, you'd know that I love teaching Poe. I time it to where I can teach all the Poe stuff (Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Masque of the Red Death) during Halloween. I decorate my room and everything. The kids love it and I'm pretty sure a lot of them remember it well. (READ MORE)

Notes From Iraq: 15JUL09--Hail and Farewell - Today, my team made its final introductions of the new team to the Iraqi Army and said its farewells. A "hail and farewell" is a customary meeting in the military. Incoming and outgoing personnel are both recognized. The teams not only finalized handing off roles, but we also had a hail and farewell dinner this evening at the U.S. base. In speaking with one of my Iraqi Army counterparts, I said, "This will probably be the last time that we speak." The look of genuine sorrow in his eyes was somewhat of a surprise. Not surprising simply because I am ready to go home to my family and will not miss him. Surprising because active duty service members acknowledge that we will move and change jobs with different fellow Soldiers regularly. Even my team. It is not that we do not care about each other; however, the fact is that we will shortly part ways. Aside from incidental run-ins, this will likely be farewell for the rest of our careers. On top of that, I should hope that there is no reason why I would see these Iraqi Army officers again. (READ MORE)

Ann Scott Tyson: Marines Waiting on Basic Supplies - U.S. Marines pushing deeper into Taliban territory in Afghanistan’s Helmand River Valley are short of basic equipment and supplies ranging from radios and vehicles to uniforms. Here in Garmsir District, critical supplies of food, water and ammunition are being dropped to troops by helicopters ferrying sling-loads to bypass roads implanted with bombs, leaving little room to carry other gear. Several Marines from one company, for example, ripped their pants during an arduous foot march and are still waiting for replacements — some in boxer shorts, officers said. “We’re short vehicles, we’re short frog-suits [uniforms] ... radios are trickling in,” said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Larosa of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. Larosa said that the lack of basic gear is unprecedented in his experience, which includes seven other deployments. “This is a first,” he said. (READ MORE)

Ramblings from a painter: More Randomness - I got a haircut the other day. Iraqi barbers are just like American ones: they yabber away among themselves the whole time they're snipping away at your hair. And they make sure that some of your curly locks land on top of your nose and tickle the hell out of it until you can sneak a hand out from under the sheet. Our barbers have two real barber's chairs and one that looks remarkably like the chairs that are in all of our offices, complete with those little wheels. Iraqi barbers have one little trick that I've never run across anywhere else: the string. Yes, it's a string. They wind it up around their fingers and use it to pluck extraneous hairs out of your eyebrows and ears and anywhere else those extraneous hairs pop up. Don't ask me how they do it. I always have my eyes scrunched shut and have never actually watched. Suffice to say, it feels weird but it's effective. (READ MORE)

Joshua Foust: Good News: Kabul Is Booming - ISAF put together a helpful video about the progress Kabul has made since 2001. While under the Taliban there were maybe a dozen phone lines in or out of the city, now there is a vast cellular phone network. There are enormous construction projects all over the place, including a standard-issue gaudy mall, and even plans for ridiculous impossible new neighborhoods. Of course, this being an ISAF propaganda video, we must tempter it with a bit of reality. Only Kabul is booming—most other parts of the country, despite some construction projects, are not nearly as connected, powered, or safe (yes, safe). While it’s true half of Kabul has electricity 24 hours a day thanks to a brand new transmission line droped from Uzbekistan, the other 93% of the country still must scratch and scramble for a few hours of juice per day. Even so, the widespread use of micro-hydro plants is a great idea, and one many Afghans asked me to provide for them when I was there (obviously I couldn’t, but the PRTs were swamped with requests). (READ MORE)

Stryker Brigade News: Stryker Route Clearance Teams Clear Roads for Soldiers, Local Civilians - TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers of the 856th Engineer Company, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team slowly cruise the roads of the Taji area, north of Baghdad, trying to find anything that might hide a roadside bomb. When the engineers find something suspicious, they poke it. It may seem like a strange job but it's a necessary one. Soldiers on the route clearance missions have a goal of finding emplaced improvised explosive devices before they can be used against other Soldiers or civilian motorists. Their toolbox includes Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles equipped with hydraulic arms that can "poke" at suspect items and dig through dirt or piles of trash. The teams also use metal detectors and the engineer-variant Stryker vehicle. Teams don't move very quickly. But speed is not the goal; vigilance is. "It's very interesting because you never know what's going to happen out there," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Bentley of York, Pa., a squad leader with 856th's 2nd Platoon. (READ MORE)

Sorority Soldier: Women’s Initiatives May Strengthen Iraqi Economy, by Stephanie Cassinos - I’m glad to see that Iraqi women are moving forward in this country. I wish I could say the same about women inside COB Basra. A picture essay about a visiting band was pulled from the Red Bull Report newspaper. I can only guess it was because the all-girl band known as BandShe likes to dress in short skirts and sports bras. But what’s wrong with that? You’ll let your soldiers see the band and enjoy their entertainment, but refuse to publicize they were even here? The same thing happened when the Raiderettes visited. An article was published and from what I was told - Army wives wanted to know why Radierettes could come to Iraq and see their husbands, but wives and girlfriends weren’t allowed. Seriously, people? After that, I couldn’t even publish their visit in the newscast ticker. In a slightly different example - when the band CatchPenny came, soldiers were stage diving and having a great time. (READ MORE)


News from the Front:
Iraq:
US Shifts to Advisory Role in Iraq Deployments - The Pentagon has designated four new "advisory and assistance brigades" among 11 units representing 30,000 troops that will begin deploying to Iraq in the fall, the next step in the phased US military withdrawal from a nation trying to transition from war to stability. The announcement of new Iraq deployments, made Tuesday, comes just two weeks after the US pulled most of its combat troops out of the country’s urban areas under the terms of a security agreement with the Iraqi government and represents the continuing transition for American forces from combat to advisory and training roles. (READ MORE)

Bombing Near Baghdad Funeral Site Kills 5 - Iraqi police say five people have been killed in a bomb blast near a funeral tent in the capital. Authorities say another 28 people were wounded in Wednesday's blast in Baghdad's mostly Shi'ite slum of Sadr City. Elsewhere in the country Wednesday, Iraqi officials say a car bomb blast killed six people, including two traffic police officers, in western Anbar province. (READ MORE)

Bombings in Iraq Kill 11 People - At least 11 people were killed and 61 wounded in bombings in Baghdad and the western city of Ramadi on Wednesday, according to witnesses and Iraqi security and hospital officials. The attack in Baghdad occurred shortly after sundown in Sadr City, a congested and predominantly Shiite district. An improvised explosive device exploded at the entrance of a funeral tent that had been set up on the street, witnesses at the scene said. Five people were killed and 26 wounded, according to the main hospital in Sadr City. (READ MORE)

Emergency Response Brigade arrests 2 suspected terrorists in Hor Rajab - BAGHDAD – The Emergency Response Brigade in Baghdad, along with Coalition force advisors, arrested two suspected terrorists during an early-morning operation in Hor Rajab, Iraq, July 13. The elite police force was operating under the authority of a warrant issued by the Criminal Investigative Court of Karkh. The arrested individuals were wanted for kidnapping, murder and targeting Iraqi Security Forces, and are allegedly affiliated with an insurgent cell operating in the local area. (READ MORE)

Arrest leads to discovery of weapons cache near Balad - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Police and U.S. Forces found and removed a weapons cache from a compound linked to a detained individual near Balad, Iraq, July 13. Reports from a previous arrest and information gathered from an initial cache on the compound led members of the Balad Iraqi police and Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division to a second suspected cache. (READ MORE)

New U.S. Advisory, Assistance Brigades to Deploy to Iraq During Next Troop Rotation - WASHINGTON — Four new Advisory and Assistance Brigades (AAB) will deploy to Iraq beginning this fall in the next regularly scheduled troop rotations, a senior defense official announced yesterday. The brigades are specially configured Army units focused on training and mentoring Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). The new AABs are among seven brigade-size elements whose upcoming deployments were announced yesterday. (READ MORE)

Building Bridges With Iraqi Army Engineers - TAJI — Iraqi Army (IA) Field Engineer Soldiers partnered with U.S. Soldiers to train on Mabey and Johnson Bridge emplacements at the Iraqi Army Engineer School here, July 3-13. Like most training the IA receives, a “train the trainer” approach was taken. Students from previous classes can now help new students learn these skills. (READ MORE)

Iraqi Military Academy Instills Leadership, Ethics, Values in New Officer Corps - AR RUSTAMIYAH — The Iraqi Military Academy here graduated 281 Iraqi Army and 86 Iraqi Air Force cadets from its Basic Officers Commissioning Course, July 14. The 12-month commissioning course paid special attention to leadership and ethics training while instilling the values and standards required of the future leaders of the Iraqi military. Additionally, the course syllabus covered tactics, weapons training, physical fitness, first aid, current affairs and geography. (READ MORE)

Elite Iraqi Commandos Complete Training, Stand Ready to Serve - BAGHDAD — Symbolic of the blood – both of fallen fighters and slain foes – that has been shed in the fight for freedom and democracy, the words "fighting the insurgency for a secure and stable Iraq" were written in a dripping red font on a poster affixed to one of the auditorium's pale white walls. Inside, a group of Iraqi Special Operations Soldiers were officially decorated with the highly-respected Commando patch during a ceremony held on an Iraqi military compound here, July 1. (READ MORE)

Forces Detain Insurgents, Seize Weapons in Iraq - WASHINGTON, July 15, 2009 – Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. soldiers, detained five suspects and discovered several weapons caches during multiple operations throughout Iraq on July 13. Iraqi forces, assisted by soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division’s 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, detained three suspected insurgents and discovered a weapons cache in Rashaad in Kirkuk province. The cache consisted of a 125 mm homemade bomb, a 120 mm round and AK-47 assault rifles. (READ MORE)

Program Bonds Iraqi Women, Strengthens Economy - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, July 15, 2009 – The view from a Humvee window in rural Iraq is a confusing sight. Small, broken structures disrupt long stretches of sand. Closer to town, abandoned vehicles corrode on the side of the road, trash collects in puddles and ditches, and people herd animals mere yards away from shops on the street. It’s almost as if a hurricane swept through a few centuries of development and everything landed at random. There is no rhyme or reason to the landscape, and everything seems out of place. (READ MORE)


Afghanistan:
Warning From General on End to Afghan Combat - The new American commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday that United States Marines had faced less resistance than expected in their operation to clear Taliban safe havens in the south, but that British troops just to the north were running into fiercer fighting than anticipated. The commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, also said that he was surprised by the resilience of pockets of Pashtun militants in western and northern Afghanistan, areas that he expected to be relatively calm but that now needed more troops and stronger local governance. (READ MORE)

Taliban Uses Afghan Fear to Fight Surge - The Taliban is seeking to blunt the surge of an additional 20,000 US troops through stepped-up attacks on Afghans working with the US-backed government, US and Afghan officials say. For much of the past year, the militant group has worked to weaken the link between the government and citizens through targeted assassinations of people who work for or with Afghan institutions. This wave of intimidation is an enormous obstacle to Afghan officials and local tribal council members trying to reach out to Afghan citizens, often in areas where the government has lacked a firm grip. (READ MORE)

Clinton to Taliban: Forsake al Qaeda - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday offered reconciliation and a chance to reintegrate into Afghan society to any Taliban members who quit fighting and renounce al Qaeda ahead of presidential elections next month. Although the Bush administration tried to reach out to some Taliban elements at the end of its term, Mrs. Clinton's call was more forceful. It was timed to encourage maximum participation in the Aug. 20 vote, which the United States hopes will produce a government more willing and able to fight corruption and improve Afghans' lives. (READ MORE)

Scarcity of Copters Fuels British Debate Over War - When Britain’s top army commander visited British frontline troops in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on Wednesday, his means of transport - a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter - made almost as much news back home as the fact that he was in Afghanistan at all. The commander, Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt, chief of the general staff, acknowledged that he had been forced to fly in an American helicopter because British forces, with only 30 helicopters for their 9,100 troops, could not spare one. (READ MORE)

British Army Chief Forced to Use US Helicopter in Afghanistan - The head of the Army was accused of playing politics after he flew around Afghanistan in an American helicopter and demanded more equipment for British troops. General Sir Richard Dannatt made clear that he would have flown in a British helicopter if one had been available and called for greater urgency over the supply of new equipment. Hours later David Cameron confronted Gordon Brown in the Commons about the provision of helicopters. (READ MORE)

The Baptist and the Mullah Launch a Faith-Based Attack on the Taliban - In a country soaked with religion, it has fallen to an Oklahoma Baptist to turn Islam into a weapon against the Taliban. The US military, eager to hand the war over to the Afghan government, has placed mentors throughout the Afghan National Army. The Americans help commanders command, fliers fly and spies spy. US Army Capt. James Hill, a baby-faced 27-year-old from Lawton, Okla., drew the job of mentoring Lt. Col. Abdul Haq, a 51-year-old army mullah who has never shaved. (READ MORE)

At Jail in Bagram, A Detainee Protest - The prisoners at the largest US detention facility in Afghanistan have refused to leave their cells for at least the past two weeks to protest their indefinite imprisonment, according to lawyers and the families of detainees. The prison-wide protest, which has been going on since at least July 1, offers a rare glimpse inside a facility that is even more closed off to the public than the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Information about the protest came to light when the International Committee of the Red Cross informed the families of several detainees that scheduled video teleconferences and family visits were being canceled. (READ MORE)

UN Official Shot Dead at Pakistan Refugee Camp - A senior police official says a UN employee and a bodyguard have been killed in a shooting at a refugee camp in northwest Pakistan. Local police chief Ghayoor Afridi said gunmen shot the UN employee and his bodyguard Thursday at the Kacha Garhi camp near Peshawar. Afridi said the assailants tried to kidnap the UN official and opened fire when he resisted. Afridi said two Pakistanis working for the UN were also wounded in the attack. (READ MORE)

Routing Taliban 'may take time' - The top military commander in the US, Adm Michael Mullen, says he does not know how long it will take for security to improve in Afghanistan. He warned that the Taliban were "much more violent, much more organised, and so there's going to be fighting that is associated with this". But he said that if the US gets its strategy right, the Afghan people themselves will turn the Taliban out. (READ MORE)

2 from Md. die in Afghan war - He was a cross-country star in high school, an incurable optimist and a young man who wanted to be a Marine so badly that he signed up when he was 16, two years before they could take him in. Now Michael W. Heede of Edgewood, a combat engineer on his third tour of duty overseas, has become one of the latest casualties in the increasingly deadly U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. "I'm now a member of a club I never thought I'd join - mothers of young people killed in the war," his mother, Gloria Crothers, said Wednesday. (READ MORE)

Taliban holding missing US soldier - A Taliban commander in south-eastern Afghanistan said that a missing US soldier was being held unharmed by insurgents, but warned he would be killed if efforts were made to find him. The soldier has been missing in Paktika province since late June, just before thousands of US Marines began a major new offensive. The US military has said he was presumed captured. (READ MORE)

Troopers of the Light Dragoons take cover during Operation Panther's Claw in Helmand Province Afghanistan.

This program with CJTF Phoenix continues currently. In 2005 the video says they brought clothes and toys for 700 children. I know in 2007 CJTF Phoenix brought enough for 1000. Just another story that you will not see in the MSM, but is essential to understanding how much good our American Soldiers are doing in Afghanistan and Iraq.



Hat Tip: Maj C

Former special ops soldier turned journalist sent this photo this morning along with his dispatch with an authorization to publish.

Note: Mike has started a twitter page, the Twitter page is Michael_Yon (not Michael Yon). Please follow that for immediate news. Mike writes:
"A friend at Soldiers' Angels started a Twitter page and I have started with real time uploads. Don't be surprised if I start Twittering during a boring Shura or an unfortunate firefight where I am pinned down and have nothing to do. Please follow that for immediate news."

Support Mike in Afghanistan by donating here.

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

Old Blue: The new digs - After I finally got to sleep last night I slept for a good ten hours in a temporary room. Whew. The temporary room was comfortable, and it had furniture. No chair, but it had a desk, a bed, a very nice wall locker of local manufacture and another piece of furniture of plywood construction which is more of a standard b-hut furnishing. Today I moved into another temporary room in another building which is more like a barracks with a hallway and private rooms off of it. It is linked to another similar building by the shower and latrine facility, which is very impressive for Afghanistan. Nicely tiled, clean and roomy. The room I moved into is very clean. It is also nearly clean of furniture, the only furnishing being a bunk bed. My duffel bags and ruck sack are my furniture. That and a purloined body armor stand which now proudly holds my armor and helmet in the corner near the door. The whole room is about the size of a commercial broom closet. (READ MORE)

Curmudgeon: An Unlikely Army Chaplain: OUTRAGE - I was chatting online with yet another GWOT veteran whom I've never met last night. We've been corresponding for about 18 months, I'd guess. This guy is a Staff Sergeant (SSG/E-6) in the Army National Guard who served overseas shortly after the invasion of Iraq. He's got 15 years in uniform, and went to the V.A. to get help with PTSD and mTBI (post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury) a while ago. The V.A. did what they were supposed to do, and helped this guy to see that he was having a normal reaction to an incredibly abnormal circumstance, and his issues resolved over time. Not too long ago, during the Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) each Soldier has to complete each year, he mentioned that he'd been to the V.A. to get help. His National Guard unit is now sending him to a medical review board in order to kick him out of the Army. He'd just gotten the paperwork from the Army on Saturday morning. (READ MORE)

Afghanistan My Last Tour: Visiting ANA Dining Facility – Part 2 - We departed the bakery and our next stop was the ANA Dining Facility (DFAC). Previously I had a cursory tour of the facility and was familiar with the surroundings. But today would be a much more in-depth visit. Similar to my last visit, the soldiers were outside using a small paring knife peeling potatoes and red onions. Next to their chairs was a mountain of onion peels. I joked to myself that they were peeling enough onions to feed an army, knowing this was exactly what they were doing. They used 2 flat pieces of scrap lumber in place of a cutting board. Next to the onion choppers another soldier diced potatoes into shapes that resembled French fries. Adjacent to the vegetable peeling was a stand- alone room. I don’t recall going inside there on my last tour, otherwise, I would have remembered it. This room contained large caldrons of rice. [Previously I reported one pot would feed about 1700 soldiers. This was incorrect; they prepare 11 large pots of rice per meal. I guess something got lost in the translation.] (READ MORE)

Bad Dogs and Such: Sadness! - That's what we call the meal experience here, as in Who wants to go to sadness? We eat UGR-A (Unitized Group Ration - A) meals. By following the link and checking out the Table 1 and table 2 options at the bottom of the page, you can see exactly what the options are. Tonight was Table 1, option 6 - LUNCH/DINNER MENU 6 - SHRIMP SCAMPI/ CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI PENNE. That's not a bad one at all, really. With my left hand, I'm engaging in the during-meal sport we refer to as "fly pong," wherein I attempt to eat while chasing the flies off of my food and onto the meal of the guy across from me. Good times, I tell you. You will note that I also have a most excellent salad on my tray. This concept - fresh vegetables (and, sometimes, even fruit) - was one that came with the manuever unit we're supporting now. Their predecessors didn't seem to realize such things were available. Scury- brought to you by the unit that also hasn't figured out how to make food warm. (READ MORE)

SGM Troy Falardeau: Congratulations to three super soldiers - The soldiers of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center gathered in the Combined Press Information Center’s conference room on July 14 to witness an award ceremony for three of its own. Congratulations to SPC James Clifton, SPC Justin Wright and SGT Emily Anderson. The three were presented Army Achievement Medals for actions in the past three months that made them stand out. Each of them lives up to the unit’s motto: maximum effort, minimum delay! (READ MORE)

Far From Perfect: Transporting a child - I have been in emergency medicine a long time. I have seen a lot of things that would give most second thoughts about humanity as a whole. However, the patients that have bothered me most over they years have always been the children. I have witnessed some horrible things done to children in my tenure, including using them as shields. We received a medevac for a child with burns. The first thing asked following the basic report was not whether or not the child was ready for transport, but whether this was another burn to the groin and abdomen. It was not the first, nor would it be that last of this particular injury we have seen. The child, about 7, had been burned upon her abdomen, groin, and thighs by hot water from a stove. She had dressings covering all the areas burned and had been given medicine to help with the terrible pain. She was wrapped in a blanket, had an IV, and a multitude of wires for the monitor coming from her body. (READ MORE)

BruceR: In defense of an ANA general - Just a little more on 3/205 Brigade and its commander, the ANA formation in Helmand referred to in the post below. I've had the opportunity to hear BGen Ghori, the ANA commander in Helmand, speak on two occasions, one in KAF, the other at Camp Hero, the ANA base, and Canadian OMLT-advised troops served under his command on two occasions during my tour. My impression was that he was certainly the most dynamic, aggressive ANA general of the five or so I've had any dealings at all with. I'm sure he still gives his British mentors fits at times, and I have no idea how much that dynamism translates in to Afghan skill but I wouldn't doubt his determination to push his troops hard and to fight. He's certainly not one to let them just sit around. So if he's having trouble coming up with 30 more troops for the American Marines, I'd have to assess he really feels those troops are needed more somewhere else. (READ MORE)

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan: Don't prod this particular hornet's nest - The RAF Regiment's job in Afghanistan is to protect Kandahar Airfield and the 13,000 international troops based there. Situated just 15 miles (24km) away from the city, Kandahar Airfield (KAF), home to around 13,000 personnel, is huge. You can't miss it. The night I was in town an insurgent certainly didn't, firing a rocket into the base which landed 'somewhere near the helicopters'. The bad guy probably regretted prodding this particular hornet's nest, as his one rocket in was repaid with ten mortars returned in 18 seconds. Such protection is provided by the RAF Regiment operating as a NATO asset. Flight Lieutenant Dale White, the Second-in-Command, described the patch the guys (150 of them) were controlling: "Reaching out beyond KAF, we patrol 500 square kilometres, and we can call on extra assets to saturate that area if we have to. But building up a good relationship with the locals is a paramount task, which pays off." (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: South Waziristan offensive 'punitive,' not counterinsurgency - The Pakistani military is not planning to confront Baitullah Mehsud's Taliban forces head on in South Waziristan. Instead the military will rely on air and artillery strikes and attempt to blockade the region. The Pakistani military's plan for South Waziristan was initially reported by the Globe and Mail. US intelligence officials familiar with the military landscape in northwestern Pakistan confirmed the Pakistani military's plan for South Waziristan during conversations with The Long War Journal. "The South Waziristan operation is punitive in nature," one official told The Long War Journal. "You won't see COIN there, " the official continued, referring to the counterinsurgency techniques of driving out insurgents, holding territory, and securing the local population. "They think they can win this via the air, like the Israelis thought they could beat Hezbollah [in Lebanon in 2006]," the official observed. (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: Tribal force kills 23 Pakistani Taliban - A Pakistani tribe killed 23 Taliban fighters during clashes in the Mohmand tribal agency. The fighting took place in the Anbar region in Mohmand, right on the border with the Bajaur tribal agency, where the military and the Taliban are again battling for control. A tribal lashkar, or militia, numbering 150 fighters battled a Taliban force of unknown number. The Taliban are reported to have kidnapped and killed three of the lashkar fighters, and torched the homes of five villagers during the fighting. Tribal lashkars have had little success against the Taliban in the past - A tribal lashkar in Upper Dir, far north of Mohmand, is also battling the Taliban after a suicide bomber leveled a mosque in a remote town and killed more than 50 worshipers. (READ MORE)

Curmudgeon: An Unlikely Army Chaplain: BREAKING IN IS HARD TO DO - A young priest arrived in theater recently, and he's been spending about a week with SFC McG and myself, as we accompany him and his Chaplain Assistant around the battlespace. I suspect he's finding things a bit overwhelming over here. It's his first deployment. (Mine too, but hey, I'm old enough to be his father.) So far, we've experienced a convoy -- he did not like being bumped around in the back of an MRAP* at all, and a couple of helicopter flights -- the first of which for him was a Hero Flight. What an introduction to life -- and death -- over here. Most recently the four of us went to the flight line to await transportation to a post I've been trying to get to for a long, long time. It finally looked as though we'd get there. The weather during the day was great, if a bit chilly, and the birds were flying. Until we got to the flight line. (READ MORE)

Sorority Soldier: Insider’s Look at Military Travel in the Middle East - CONTINGENCY BASE ADDER, Iraq – I stood by the airfield in Talil early on a Wednesday morning patiently waiting for two UH-60 Black Hawks to lift off from across the strip to come over and pick me up for a flight to Kalsu. I was on more of a time-crunch than I would have liked, but I was finally moving on with the next step of my journey. The trip started bright and early days before. I had the opportunity to travel to various military posts with an officer on a research mission. Sure, I could have tasked the assignment out, but I must admit I was getting a little stir-crazy from the “Dilbert” lifestyle working at Division Headquarters. The mission had me scratching my head and looking for an escape route almost from the very beginning. Housing issues, wrong keys, long meetings, misunderstandings, missing contacts, unrelenting heat, missed meals, unhelpful people and lots of lugging dominated our existence. It became clear to me I wasn’t as young as I used to be. (READ MORE)

Kevin Knodell: Jackson Death Distracted from Soldiers’ Sacrifices - First Lieutenant Brian Bradshaw was killed in Afghanistan on June 25, the same day Michael Jackson died. With the King of Pop’s passing dominating the headlines, no one much noticed Bradshaw’s death, at first. Then Bradshaw’s family began extolling their soldier’s sacrifice, and Fox News and CBS News (posted above) eventually ran with it. Bradshaw attended Pacific Lutheran University, where I am a student with strong connections to the Army ROTC program. I didn’t know him — he commissioned the year before I enrolled — but I knew of him, and even met him once. His death has strongly affected the cadets, as well as the training cadre and graduates. I see the faces of friends and mentors when I watch the CBS spot. Michael Jackson’s death was newsworthy, but it overshadowed the recent deaths of more than a dozen American and British soldiers in Afghanistan. The dead soldiers’ families got to hear every day about their countrymen’s “despair” over the “Jackson tragedy.” (READ MORE)

War, the military, COIN and stuff: In the Graveyard of Empires - It didn’t take long after the American invasion of Iraq for the literary output inspired by the war to start hitting the bookshelves. In 2005 alone, influential books like George Packer’s The Assassins' Gate, Anthony Shadid’s Night Draws Near, Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s Imperial Life in the Emerald City, and Bing West’s No True Glory were released, followed closely by in 2006 by Tom Ricks’ widely-praised Fiasco. All of these books captured the public’s imagination in some way (No True Glory, in fact, is currently being made into a movie starring Harrison Ford, if that’s any indication), and spurred debate over the conduct of the war and the cracked edifice of ideology, blind assumption, stunning incompetence, and misdirection that led to it. Afghanistan, with its much smaller American footprint—and having been mistakenly considered “won” for far too long—hasn’t fared quite as well between the covers. (READ MORE)

Afghanistan My Last Tour: Afghan Army food poisoning – Part 3/Conclusion - After we inspected the serving line and dining tables, I wanted to focus more on sanitary conditions. I inquired whether bleach was used and if we could see a sample. The ANA Captain showed me the bottle of bleach they used. The decorative label had some catchy American name, but after closer examination I determined it was manufactured in Karachi, Pakistan. My wife will tell you that I am really sensitive to a strong bleach smell and it bothers me. But today my sensory receptacles just weren’t working or something was wrong. Note: Please don’t do this at home. I unscrewed the lid off the bottle and couldn’t detect any odor. This seemed very peculiar so I placed the bottle closer to my nostrils and still nothing. By now I have a curious audience and they watched as I placed the opening of the bottle next to my nose and inhaled. I detected a slight aroma of chlorine. (READ MORE)


News from the Front:
Iraq:
Pentagon Deploys New Troops to Iraq, With a Twist - The Pentagon announced new troop deployments Tuesday that begin to formalize the role of soldiers in Iraq as advisers to Iraqi forces instead of combatants gunning for insurgents. This year and next, the Pentagon will deploy four new units called Advisory and Assistance Brigades to Iraq. The US military has been advising the Iraqi security forces for several years, but this is the first time the Defense Department has designed a training unit tailored to the needs of Iraq. (READ MORE)

US Troops in Iraq to Focus More on Support Than Combat - The Pentagon announced Tuesday it will change the composition and mission of some troop units being deployed to Iraq in the coming months to reduce their combat role and increase their ability to train and support Iraqi forces. Spokesman Bryan Whitman says seven US combat brigades are scheduled to be replaced by fresh forces in the coming months, but four of them will be replaced by somewhat different units - specially created Advisory and Assistance Brigades. (READ MORE)

Troops to Advise Iraqis - The Pentagon has created, and ordered to Iraq, four custom-made Army brigades designed to focus more on advising Iraqis and less on fighting as the United States prepares for its 2011 exit. The new units are among 30,000 troops being sent to Iraq, starting this fall, the Defense Department announced Tuesday. An additional 7,500 are going to Afghanistan. (READ MORE)

U.S. Units Partner, Pass Combat Life Saver Skills to Iraqi Army Medics - COB ADDER — Two U.S. units partnered to provide Combat Life Saver (CLS) skills to the Iraqi Army (IA) during a recent five-day training course here. Medics from the 287th Sustainment Brigade and 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 1st Armored Division, partnered to provide CLS training to four medics from the IA 10th Special Forces Commando Battalion. (READ MORE)

First Air Force Officer Takes Command of Army Engineer Corps District - TALLIL — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Gulf Region Division (GRD) in Iraq made history July 9, when Col. Jack Drolet relinquished command of the USACE's Gulf Region South (GRS) district to Col. Jeffry D. Knippel, the first U.S. Air Force officer to ever command an Army Engineer district. GRD Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Michael R. Eyre, presided over the one-hour ceremony here in the Post Chapel of Contingency Operating Base Adder. (READ MORE)

Mobile Medical Truck Trains Healthcare Professionals Throughout Iraq - BAGHDAD — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Gulf Region Division (GRD) renovated a mobile medical equipment training facility here in June for use by health care providers and technicians at Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and hospitals across Iraq. "Originally it was a simple blood laboratory and X-ray truck," said Mohamad Husam, Operations, Maintenance and Sustainment division, GRD, "but we added the dental chair and additional blood work lab equipment." (READ MORE)

Battery Commander Looks Back at Successful Tour of Duty in Iraq - FOB DELTA — Fifteen months after deploying to Iraq, the Soldiers of Battery C, 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, are getting ready to head home to Fort Hood, Texas. From Bucca to Buehring, Basrah to Delta, the Soldiers of Btry. C have had an adventure of a deployment. Starting at Camp Bucca in April 2008, Btry. C's first mission in Iraq was conducting detainee operations. (READ MORE)

Brigade Makes ‘Huge Difference’ in Iraq, Commander Says - WASHINGTON, July 14, 2009 – Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team have made a positive impact on security and quality of life in Iraq’s Basra province, their commander said during a briefing from Iraq today. Their impact can be attributed, in part, to successful training programs, Army Col. Butch Kievenaar said. (READ MORE)

Soldiers Capture ‘High-value’ Terror Suspect in Baghdad - BAGHDAD, July 14, 2009 – U.S. forces apprehended a wanted man suspected of being the leader of a bomb-making cell during a July 12 civil affairs mission west of Baghdad. Civil affairs officers from C Troop, 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, went to the man’s house July 12 to pay for damages to his front door caused during a previous attempt to capture the known criminal. (READ MORE)

Microgrants Assist Growing Economy in Iraq - FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq, July 14, 2009 – As security improves in Kirkuk, the business community has the opportunity to grow. But some small businesses still need a helping hand. U.S. forces issue microgrants of up to $5,000 to help Iraqi small-business owners build or revitalize their businesses, and they follow up about 30 days later to assess progress. (READ MORE)


Afghanistan:
'Walking a tightrope' - A FALLEN soldier slammed the MoD's lack of resources and manpower in an incredible war diary written before he died. Lieutenant Mark Evison blasted the "tightrope" troops are forced to walk every day at under-equipped bases saying they "are likely to fall unless drastic measures are taken". The soldier was killed just weeks after writing the journal extract. (READ MORE)

Afghan War’s Buried Bombs Put Risk in Every Step - This year, bomb attacks on coalition troops in Afghanistan have spiked to an all-time high, with 465 in May alone, more than double the number in the same month two years before. At least 46 American troops have been killed by IED’s this year, putting 2009 on track to set a record in the eight-year war. (READ MORE)

Britain Questions Role in Afghan War - Opposition politicians and many others are beginning to question Britain's involvement in a far-flung war that is increasingly bloody. Much of the political clamor revolves around what they complain is a shortage of equipment: (READ MORE)

British Coffins Raise Ire Over Afghan Push - With its cricket field, pubs and a centuries-old church, this is a typical southern English town in all respects but one: Every corpse that returns from Britain's wars abroad passes through it, in what has become a public show of respect. (READ MORE)

Dannatt Calls for Rethink on Afghan Resources as Troop Deaths Mount - A rethink is needed on the resources and troop numbers devoted to Britain’s mission in southern Afghanistan, the head of the Army said yesterday. On a visit to Kabul, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said that the high number of deaths in recent days had made people question “what we’re doing [and] how we’re doing it". (READ MORE)

6 Killed in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash are Ukrainian, Reports Say - Military officials said Tuesday that six foreign contractors and four Western soldiers, including two US Marines, were killed in what is fast becoming one of the most lethal months for coalition forces in Afghanistan. (READ MORE)

'Caveats' Neuter NATO Allies - The outgoing NATO SACEUR, or supreme allied commander Europe, would gladly forgo more NATO troops to fight Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan if allied countries dropped their caveats against their use in combat operations. (READ MORE)

Coalition, Afghan Forces Reclaim Village, Disrupt Taliban - WASHINGTON, July 14, 2009 – Coalition and Afghan forces reclaimed the eastern Afghan village of Barge Matal yesterday following a July 12 firefight with Taliban militants, military officials reported. Insurgent forces had overwhelmed the isolated mountain village in Nuristan province several days prior, but fled as Afghan and NATO troops launched a late afternoon gun battle that lasted into the evening. The forces quickly secured key areas of the village and repelled the insurgents. (READ MORE)

Joint Missions Lay Groundwork for Brighter Future in Afghanistan - LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, July 14, 2009 – Joint operations have become a key term for U.S. and Afghan forces, particularly for soldiers assigned to the Cherokee Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, here. The soldiers patrol local villages nearly every day, typically with Afghan security forces by their side. “Seventy percent of our operations are joint operations with the Afghan National Army,” said Army Staff Sgt. Shawn Evans, a squad leader with 1st Platoon, Battle Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, attached to Cherokee Troop, 3-71. (READ MORE)

NATO soldiers killed in Afghan road accident - Two NATO soldiers were killed in a road accident in northern Afghanistan, the alliance said today, as the number of foreign military deaths so far this year passed the 200 mark. The force said the pair were killed late Tuesday while driving, without giving details or disclosing their nationalities. An Afghan provincial governor said the two were Turkish. (READ MORE)

Al-Zawahiri urges Pakistanis to support Taliban - Cairo - An audio tape purportedly by al-Qaeda's second-in- command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released Wednesday urged Pakistanis to fight the United States and to back Islamist militants. "It is the individual duty of every Muslim in Pakistan to join the mujahideen, or at the very least, to support the jihad in Pakistan and Afghanistan with money, advice, expertise, information, communications, shelter and anything else he can offer," al-Zawahiri said, according to a transcript of the tape posted on the website of the US-based NEFA Foundation. (READ MORE)

Sgt. 1st Class Gregory A. Rodriguez & Jacko 35 years old from Weidman, MichiganK-9 unit of the 527th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th MP BrigadeSeptember 2, 2008

"I asked Greg if anything ever happened to him where he'd prefer to be buried," Sgt. Rodriguez's wife, Laura, told the Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant, "and he told me Arlington, as he wanted to be among the best and the brave."

"Rod," as he was known to his Army buddies, was a Red Wings fan who loved to hassle fans of other hockey teams he met during his military career, said Laura. "Greg loved to push everyone's buttons and get people going with his rare, unique sense of sarcasm," she said. At the same time, her husband, a military police dog handler whose dog, Jacko, survived the fatal ambush, was "a very committed, loyal individual and could be counted on whenever needed."Sgt. 1st Class Gregory A. Rodriguez died of wounds suffered in Ana Kalay, Afghanistan, when his mounted patrol came under small-arms fire."My brother liked to be the law," said Lisa Dombrowski. "He liked justice. If it wasn't right, he made it right."He is survived by his sister, wife and three children.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.comThese brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Bubba was killed 4 days after R/R. Shortly after- Nicki found out she was pregnant with their R/R baby...

Brian "Bubba" Bunting and his wife Nicki started their race towards a big family on their honeymoon, and wanted to keep on steadily gaining ground. Bubba’s deployment put a halt on their plans.

Bubba’s race to grow his family continues after he was tragically killed while serving in Afghanistan-just 4 days after returning from spending 2 weeks at home with his family for R&R. Neither he nor Nicki knew at the time he was killed that they had succeeded in attempts to expand their family over his short break from deployment. Nicki found out she was pregnant just days after the news came of Bubba’s death. Their son, Connor, would have a sibling after all.

Bubba’s Run is a 5K run in honor and memory of Captain Brian "Bubba" Bunting’s race to grow his family and for the benefit of his children’s education.

Nicole, Bubba's husband says:

"I have committed myself to creating Bubba’s Belly Run, a 5K race in honor and memory of my husband, Captain Brian "Bubba" Bunting, a fallen hero. Bubba was killed this year while serving the United States Army in Afghanistan, leaving behind myself, our 2 year old son, and our expectant son.

The 1st Annual Bubba’s Belly Run will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. The monies we raise will be used to support an education fund for our children, The Fisher House, American Widow Project, and provide Flat Daddies to the children of deployed soldiers.

This year, I need your help to get our first race off to a successful start! I fully understand that this is a difficult time financially for most businesses. If you are considering making a charitable donation, I kindly ask you to consider making it to Bubba’s Belly Run to help support the proud families of our American heroes. Any monetary amount will be greatly appreciated by so many.

Thank you for your support. Your tax deductible contribution will help heal the lives of so many."

The race will be held the weekend of Nicki and Bubba’s wedding anniversary, when his original race began.

Register here: http://www.bubbasbellyrun.com/registration_form.php

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

Old Blue: Afghanistan Redux - I arrived back in Afghanistan today after the most grueling trip I’ve ever had to get halfway around the world. Kuwait was hairdryer-hot, moving as an individual is murderous, and there are many moving parts. But after sitting in Kuwait for only about a day suddenly everything took off at a rapid pace. Kudos to CSTC-A for having a liaison at Bagram who received us and pushed us on to Kabul in just about twelve hours. Nice. I tried to publish from Kuwait, but couldn’t get it done. The internet there just absolutely blows. Bagram has changed a fair amount. One DFAC torn down to make room for tents, the dining facility moved across Disney. The stop signs at Four Corners are gone. Nice for traffic on Disney, not so nice for those on the cross street or pedestrians. It is still a world unto itself. Still a sniper check salute zone. (READ MORE)

Joshua Foust: Good News: Retaking Bargimatal - Ah ha! A few days ago, the U.S. abandoned Bargimatal, a very isolated area right on the border between Nuristan and Chitral. It was immediately occupied by militants. I saw the news but didn’t really note it anywhere, as it was the latest in a very long line of entire regions we’ve ceded to militants, and as much as I am obsessed fascinated with the area, it’s really of no strategic significance. Because of the area’s geography, there’s no reason to choke it off at the border, and Nuristanis in general seem to want to be left alone by everybody, and not just us. That being said, it looks like Afghan and American forces have retaken the district center. At least two militants died in the fight. That certainly counts as good news for now. Please keep the good news items—any, I’m serious—coming. (READ MORE)

Afghanistan My Last Tour: Nan Bread anyone? - Today’s mission or tasking was driven by circumstance. Prior to departing for “ANA land” we received information that several hundred soldiers were sick and it might not be a good idea to visit today. We feared a possible epidemic and our level-headed team leader decided to get to the bottom of the “mystery illness” before making any hasty decisions and endangering our well being. Apparently the soldiers were suffering from a mild case of food poison and a few of them had acute botulism problems. As such, my mission was to examine the ANA DFAC and the bakery for possible sources of problems. Also our team is rather fortunate to have someone who is trained in the culinary field and this AF SSgt would accompany me. When we arrived at ANA land we noticed groups of soldiers holding their hands against their stomachs, while others had pale white faces and were being supported on their “wingman’s” shoulders and escorted to trucks for transportation to the medical clinic. (READ MORE)

Doc H's International Adventure: The first Mission - The team we are replacing was very quick ensure we hit the ground running. We went to a nearby ANP training facility to inprocess a new batch of Police recruits. There were other teams doing administrative screenings, but we did medical screenings: medical history, abbreviated physicals, immunizations, vision screening, and urine drug screenings. It was in a hot chow hall area of the compound. At one point we were a little suprised by a nearby explosion, which we found out later was a controlled detonation of an old mine. These screenings are a lot of what the last team did. It is essential to have a bountiful and well trained police force to counter the insurgency efforts here in Afghanistan. (READ MORE)

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan: Keeping supplies to Afghanistan moving - The RAF's Joint Movements Unit plays an essential role in Afghanistan making sure that the RAF's giant Hercules and C-17 aircraft receive everything they need to keep Britain's Armed Forces armed, fed and watered properly. One member of the seven-man specialist logistics team currently deployed to Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan is Senior Aircraftman Jonathan Howes, aged 32, who is a volunteer airman with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAAF). Normally a cycle shop manager in Cradley Heath in the West Midlands, SAC Howes and his colleagues handle a staggering 350 tonnes of freight per week, and support a huge range of RAF and civilian aircraft. (READ MORE)

In Iraq Now (at 56): Half of 2009 by the Numbers - Today I passed 3000 miles riding--more than I thought I would have ridden by now. So I figured I could do a short numbers update. In addition to riding 3000 miles in just over 6 months, I have lived (in the sense of having some type of domicile for a week or more) in three countries: United States, Kuwait, Iraq. Two states: Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Four Army Forts/Bases: Fort Sill, Camp Buehring, Tallil Ali Air Base, Ali Al Salim Air Base. This blog has more readers than ever. When I started it, I wanted to give my friends a way to keep up with what I was doing without me sending emails they might not want. IF they wanted to read the blog they could. Last June I put Site Meter on the the blog. That month I got 370 visits and 503 page views. June of this year there were 4378 visits and 5681 page views. (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: Explosion in Pakistan's Punjab province kills 11 - An explosion at what appears to be an extremist training camp for children in Pakistan's Punjab province has killed 11 people and wounded more than 120. A massive explosion in the town of Mian Channu in the Khanewal district in northern Punjab province leveled at least 25 homes. More people are thought to have been trapped in the rubble. Seven children and one woman are among those reported killed, and another 12 people are said to be in critical condition. The blast occurred at the home of a local cleric named Hafiz Riaz, who is said to conduct informal religious training for children. "This was not a formal madrassah but children used to come to get a religious education," a Punjab provincial cabinet minister told AFP. But the large explosion, the huge blast crater, and weapons, including a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a suicide vest, and a hand grenade found at the blast site indicate Riaz was running a terrorist training camp. Police detained three men after the explosion. (READ MORE)

Notes From Iraq: 13JUL09--Introduction; Attacks on Churches - Today, my team introduced the new team to the Iraqi Army. However, many officers were away, reacting to rather serious situations to include attacks on churches. When the U.S. Army patrolled Iraqi cities, insurgents justified their attacks as resistance to an occupation. Now that the U.S. has completely pulled out of the cities and has begun steps for a drastic downsizing, insurgents would be hard pressed to find excuses for violent acts. Under the possible auspice of opposing organized Christianity, an unknown group attacked approximately half a dozen christian churches yesterday, killing at least four civilians and injuring many more. The somber reality is that insurgents will test the organization and fortitude of Iraq forces in the short term. The timing of these attacks has quickly introduced the new team to this reality. (READ MORE)

Michael J. Totten: We Are Not at War with Nouri al-Maliki - Robert Spencer, founder and lead writer for Jihad Watch, has a bit of trouble telling the difference between friend and foe in Iraq and still thinks, despite everything, that the United States is losing the war. Instead of referring to me by name, he sarcastically dismisses me as a “learned analyst,” as he does with President Barack Obama and his advisors, while scoffing at a long dispatch I published last week. “No insurgent or terrorist group can declare victory or claim Americans are evacuating Iraq’s cities because they were beaten,” I wrote. Spencer acknowledges that Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki isn’t the leader of an insurgent or terrorist group. But he maintains that my statement is “breathtaking in its disconnect from reality” because Maliki declared the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq’s cities “a great victory.” We are not, and never have been, at war with Prime Minister Maliki. (READ MORE)

Photography, Software, and Sand: Down to 45 days - We are scheduled for our move to Balad sometime this month ... the day keeps fluctuating but it seems like it is going to be a reality. Our desks are gone, most of our vehicles have been taken to be shipped, and our IT team has wired the new facility up for internet. We're just awaiting final word from the military that our facility is ready for us to move into. It will definitely not be a good time leaving. Some people have been working on this contract here for five years, and the compound we are in now has been home to this support contract since the war began in 2003. For me, though, it will be uprooting my home here and moving it for the last month of my time. Its strange looking back to say that I've lived in Iraq for almost a year... in some ways I feel like I have been here for an eternity, and in others I feel like I just left home. One thing's for sure, though, and thats that I'm looking forward to going home and leaving this country as a distant memory. (READ MORE)

Registan.net: Of Bases and Transit Centers - Russia wants a new CSTO base in Kyrgyzstan near Osh, and it is hard not to interpret its desire as having something to do with the decision to keep the airbase transit center at Manas open to US and NATO forces. It is probably a mistake to interpret this desire as a response to Russia’s “failure” to keep the US out of Kyrgyzstan — Russia has, after all, agreed to allow the US to transit goods bound for Afghanistan and shares NATO’s desire to keep the Taliban from returning to power. It is far more likely that Russia is exploiting the perception that it was beat and/or had to make concessions to the West to quiet any potential objections from the US or EU to its attempt for a new base in Kyrgyzstan. And Russia got what it wants. The US say that any new Russian base is entirely Kyrgyzstan’s business. Uzbekistan, however, is far less interested in Russia setting up a base so close to its border. (READ MORE)

The Torch: Canadian special forces ops in Afstan (and CSIS) - The veil lifted a bit; I trust Sen. Kenny isn't the only source for this story: Elite forces target bomb makers - OTTAWA – Canada's elite special forces soldiers have been launching raids on enemy compounds to directly target insurgents making roadside bombs, the main killer of coalition troops in Afghanistan, the Toronto Star has learned. Using intelligence gathered by Canadian spies on the ground in the troubled country, soldiers with Joint Task Force 2 and the special forces regiment are actively involved in going after the networks that produce the improvised explosive devices. "It's a very high value target for them," said Senator Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate defence committee. While it's been known that members of the special forces group have been operating in Afghanistan, the government has maintained a strict silence about their specific operations. But their website boasts that they work abroad "to destroy, disorganize and disrupt the networks of violent organizations." (READ MORE)

The Writings of a Man's Man: A Brief Respite - I have marveled several times at just how drastically the standards of living change from a mega-FOB like Liberty to a smaller FOB to one of our small little outposts. Lately I’ve been staying at a tiny little JSS and after a while it starts to wear on you. Plywood walls begin closing in on you. The fact that the AC in your room only cools the room to a barely tolerable 88 degrees and you awake daily to a sweat soaked pillow begins to take its toll. You start craving some fresh fruit and vegetables, even if it is only apples and iceberg lettuce. Long days spent manning a hot joint operations center filled with Iraqis chain smoking cheap cigarettes, constantly offering you chai, speaking a tongue you can’t understand and totally violating the American concept of personal space makes you long for a vacation. As luck would have it my platoon started running short on essential supplies like soap, deodorant, cigarettes and dip so we got sent to a nearby FOB for a couple days of refit. (READ MORE)

War, the military, COIN and stuff: Trouble in Helmand, Trouble for NATO - Marine Corps Brigadier General Larry Nicholson—who has been heading up Marine Corps operations in Helmand in southern Afghanistan over the past two weeks—told reporters last week at the Pentagon that “the first thing we didn’t want the people of Helmand River Valley to see is Marines arriving and immediately throwing up barriers and hiding…we’re going to be in there with the people.” Nicholson also said that one of his requirements for his commanders is that “within 24 hours of hitting the deck, you will have a shura with the local elders. And that has occurred. I've attended several of those myself.” It’s a version of the now-famous “clear, hold and build” strategy that U.S. forces used in Iraq, but with some notable differences. First and foremost is the lack of a host country presence: among the Marines are a paltry 650 Afghan security forces, a pathetic number considering that standing up the Afghan army has been a work in progress for the last seven years. (READ MORE)


News from the Front:
Iraq:
International soccer returns to Baghdad - Iraq’s future might be fraught with peril. Bombs explode daily around the country and its myriad political problems remain unsolved. But on Tuesday night, Iraqis’ desire for ordinary lives was on display as international soccer returned to Baghdad. For the first time since 2002, a team from abroad dared venture to Baghdad to engage in the national pastime. (READ MORE)

Iraq Tightens Security Around Churches, Christian Towns After Wave of Attacks - Iraqi authorities on Monday tightened security around churches across Baghdad and in two Christian towns in the northern province of Nineveh, amid fears that a series of attacks against them could escalate. The security measures were imposed a day after bombings in and around churches in Baghdad killed four people and wounded many others. One of the bombs went off as worshipers were leaving Mass in an eastern Baghdad neighborhood. (READ MORE)

Wanted Iraqi terrorist apprehended - BAGHDAD – An improvised explosive device cell leader was apprehended during a civil affairs mission west of Baghdad July 12. The suspected criminal, who admitted he is a member of an insurgency group, had a warrant issued for his arrest by the Government of Iraq. Iraqi Army Soldiers have been actively searching for the terrorist for nearly a week. Civil affairs officers from C Troop, 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron went to the man’s house on Sunday to pay for damages to his front door caused during a previous attempt to capture the known criminal. (READ MORE)

U.S. Army Mechanics Train Iraqis on Humvee Maintenance - BAGHDAD – U.S. military advisors provided training in vehicle operation and maintenance with 22 new humvees purchased through the Iraqi Security Forces Fund program. U.S. Army mechanics Sgt. Brian Coots and Spc. Jarrod Reinhardt, expertly explained the operations of the humvee to drivers and mechanics of the Warrant Service Team, which is part of Internal Affairs in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. (READ MORE)

Soldiers charged with misconduct - BAGHDAD – Soldiers serving with 266th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade in Basra, Iraq have been charged with misconduct during the unit’s pre-deployment training at Fort Dix in the fall of 2008. Charges were preferred against Sgt. Gilbert Parker and Spc. Matthew Delia, July 3 and July 7, respectively. Both Soldiers are National Guardsmen activated with the 266th Military Police Company out of Manassas, Va. (READ MORE)

First U.S. Air Force officer takes command of Gulf Region Division South district - TALLIL, Iraq - The Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq made history July 9 when Col. Jeffry D. Knippel became the first U.S. Air Force officer to command a USACE District. Col. Jack Drolet relinquished command of the Gulf Region South district during a one-hour ceremony in the Post Chapel, Contingency Operating Base Adder, Tallil, Iraq. Gulf Region Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. Michael R. Eyre presided. (READ MORE)

Iraqis, Coalition Soldiers Partner to Build Business Initiatives - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER — Coalition Soldiers partnered with local Iraqi business leaders to teach business skills at an extravaganza bazaar here July 4. The civil military operations office of the 287th Sustainment Brigade invited 14 local Iraqi businesses to take part in a shopping extravaganza that will serve both Soldiers wanting to purchase items from Iraqis and as a way for Iraqis to learn how to build strong business strategies. The goal is for the Iraqis to sustain their business after the drawdown of Coalition forces. (READ MORE)

Engineers Make Streets of Baghdad Safer - BAGHDAD — Route sanitation remains a vital piece in the war on terrorism. When piles of trash and debris are removed from the side of the roadway it eliminates places for terrorists to hide bombs and improvised explosive devices that would disrupt the lives of the neighborhood people. The Soldiers of the 277th Engineer Company work diligently with their combat arms brethren to ensure the main and alternate supply routes of Baghdad are clear of debris. (READ MORE)

Soldier Helps Iraqi Division Develop Public Affairs Officer Skills - MAHMUDIYAH — Soldiers of 17th Iraqi Army Division trained with a sergeant of 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team recently to establish a public affairs unit at the joint communications center in Mahmudiyah, which is located south of Baghdad. Sgt. Waine Haley, the non-commissioned officer in charge of public affairs, taught a week-long class at the 17th Division compound, focusing on writing skills, basic camera techniques and helping assess the unit's broadcasting equipment and skills. (READ MORE)

Afghanistan:
Mindful of Civilians, Pilots in Afghanistan Alter Tactics - After taking repeated fire from Taliban fighters holed up in a building last week, a group of American Marines in southern Afghanistan called in airstrikes to wipe out the threat. But the Navy F/A-18 fighter pilots who responded worried that bombing the militants could hurt civilians, and suggested a different solution to the ground troops. The airmen then roared in low and fast, without firing a shot, in a deafening pass that frightened the militants into silence. (READ MORE)

Verdict on the Afghanistan Campaign: Exactly What are We Fighting For? - Public confusion over the principal objectives of the military campaign in Afghanistan has forced ministers to try to explain why so many British soldiers are dying and for what cause. Initially, the reason for the mission in Helmand province was to ensure that al-Qaeda was prevented from ever again using Afghanistan as a safe haven for terrorism which would be damaging to Britain’s national security. (READ MORE)

British Army Asked for 2,000 Extra Troops, Government Sent 700 - Gordon Brown rejected a recommendation by military chiefs to send 2,000 more troops to Afghanistan despite being warned that not doing so could jeopardise the mission against the Taleban, The Times has learnt. The Government instead chose to send only 700 extra troops, taking the total from 8,300 to 9,000 - and only on a temporary basis in the run-up to the presidential elections in August. (READ MORE)

Gordon Brown Says Troops in Afghanistan Have Right Equipment - Gordon Brown has insisted that British troops are equipped well enough to succeed in the increasingly bloody war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister admitted that the death toll in recent days had made it "a sad and difficult time" as he warned that people should be braced for more losses. But David Cameron told Mr Brown that he should not have cut the budget for vital helicopters, describing their lack of availability as a "scandal". (READ MORE)

Explosion Kills Afghan Police Chief and 3 Officers - The police chief of a district south of Kabul that the Americans had sought to make a Taliban-free model of safety and security was killed Monday along with three of his officers in a roadside blast. The deaths cast a blow to the American effort and suggested that Taliban operatives had re-infiltrated the district, Jalrez, in Wardak Province. (READ MORE)

Taleban Plant their Homemade Bombs in Afghanistan with Lethal Effectiveness - Fertiliser, batteries, blocks of wood, saw blades, copper wire, a car inner tube, perhaps some foam packaging and ball bearings - it takes little more than the contents of the average garden shed to gather the basic ingredients of a Taleban bomb. Most of the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that the Taleban’s bombmakers produce use home-made explosives and are simple in their design and construction, British bomb disposal experts say. (READ MORE)

Pakistan Refugees Return to Swat - Zahid Hussain and Matthew Rosenberg, Wall Street Journal. Thousands of people began returning to Pakistan's Swat Valley after nearly three months of fighting that drove the Taliban from the region and created the country's worst refugee crisis in six decades. Pakistan earned praise at home and abroad for its offensive in Swat, which began in April after the collapse of a peace deal that handed the valley just 100 miles north of Islamabad, the capital, to militants. (READ MORE)

Joint Force Detains Suspected Militant in Afghanistan - WASHINGTON, July 13, 2009 – A joint Afghan and coalition force detained a suspected militant after searching a compound last night in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt the flow of foreign fighters into the region. The force targeted a compound near the village of Jahangir Kalay, southwest of Ghazni, after receiving intelligence indicating militant activity. (READ MORE)

Cooperation Key to Success Along Afghan Border - KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, July 13, 2009 – Since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, Pakistan and Afghanistan not only have shared a border, but also a common threat. Using early breakdowns in communication along that border to their advantage, insurgents often would attack in one country, only to flee into the other with little or no resistance. (READ MORE)

NATO: 6 killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash - A helicopter contracted by the NATO-led force in Afghanistan crashed in southern Helmand province Tuesday, killing six civilians, an official said. Two U.S. Marines died in the same region. The white helicopter crashed and caught fire around daybreak in Sangin district, said Fazel Haq, the top district official. (READ MORE)

British to send 140 more troops to Afghanistan - LONDON (AP) - Britain is sending an additional 140 troops to Afghanistan to bolster the war effort there. The Ministry of Defense says the soldiers will be transferred from a British base in Cyprus to the war zone. The troops will join more than 9,000 British soldiers already in Afghanistan as an offensive against Taliban positions in Helmand Province continues. (READ MORE)

Bodies Of Eight British Troops Returning From Afghanistan - LONDON (Reuters) -- The bodies of eight soldiers killed during the bloodiest 24-hours for British forces since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 are due to be flown back on July 14. The men were killed in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan where British and U.S. forces are involved in a major operation to try to recapture territory from Taliban militants. (READ MORE)

~~~
Linked by: H&I FIRES* 14 July 2009 at Castle Argghhh!

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

A Major's Perspective: (VIDEO) Helo Engagement of IED Cell

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan: Cpl Jonathan Horne, Rfn William Aldridge, Rfn James Backhouse, Rfn Joseph Murphy and Rfn Daniel Simpson of 2 RIFLES killed in Afghanistan - It is with very deep regret that the Ministry of Defence confirms the names of five soldiers from The 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who were killed in Afghanistan on 10 July 2009. (READ MORE)

P.J. Tobia: How The US Will Get Out of Afghanistan - CNN dropped this story on Friday, and though it got little play in US papers, it is an extremely significant development. In short, ISI—Pakistan’s CIA equivalent—has offered to use its Taliban contacts to open a dialogue between insurgent leaders and the US. This is critical because it begins to open the window for a way out of the war. Myself and others have long held that the US under Obama will try an Afghan surge—as we’re seeing now—improve security as much as possible, train the heck out of Afghan police and military—which we’re seeing here—then, sometime before the next US presidential election, strike a truce with moderate elements of the Taliban, declare victory and withdraw the bulk of our forces. This deal may be the first step in a dialogue that will lead to that truce. (READ MORE)

Afghanistan My Last Tour: Mentoring my ANA SGM - I enjoyed my day off and at night visited the MWR center and shot some darts with the “fellas”. My pinpoint accuracy of earlier years has deteriorated and has been replaced with mediocre precision. Previously in Korea I used to practice 3-4 hours nightly and became quite adept. Now the only time I play is on deployments. Around midnight I called it a night and looked forward to a good night’s rest. Around 2:30 am, my curtain rod decided to fall off the window and land in my bed. I was quite certain what hit me, but had no desire to get up and reattach it. Then about 4:30 am the sun lit up my entire room. It was like someone turned on a bright spot light in my eyes. Initially I thought I was late for work and then a glance at my clock brought me back to reality. So I’m a bit on the sleepy side today, but reattached the plastic holders with glue. My lack of sleep wasn’t going to interfere with mentoring my ANA SGM. Today he acted very squirrely and I couldn’t quite figure it out. (READ MORE)

Bad Dogs and Such: [head, wall, repeat] - My most "substantial" body of work experience lies in the public affairs/outreach realm, with a heavy emphasis on natural resources and military issues. I've been working through the godawful process of setting up resumes on the "special resume website" that it seems each and every agency in the government has (oh, there's a USAJOBs resume, but the Army, Navy and USDA all have a different one of their own). I was reviewing my info on one of those sites this evening when I spotted a typo... Folks, what one word do you think, given the information in the first sentence, could I have typo'd/misspelled and had missed by automated spell-checkers and multiple proofreaders? (READ MORE)

Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure: The Announcement - I'm currently in Kuwait, trying to find my way to Bagram. I'm going back to Afghanistan for a year. Hopefully I can help make a difference in my small way. Also, this blog is moving to http://afghanquest.com If you have me on your links; first of all, thanks. Secondly, please update your links. I hope that those who have been reading continue to enjoy. ~Blue (READ MORE)

Michael Yon: Searching for Kuchi & Finding Lizards -13 July 2009 Ghor Province, Afghanistan - The wake-up alarm sounded at 0345, and by 0430 the Lithuanian soldiers were ready to roll. The Lithuanians had always arrived early, prepared for action before every mission, but this time we relied on an Afghan guide. The first part of the mission was to find the Kuchi. Normally, Lithuanian soldiers perform a reconnaissance before a mission, but they decided to skip the recon to find the Kuchi nomads because, well, they are nomads. Even if the recon were to locate the camel caravan in a specific location, the Kuchis would likely have moved by the time we got there. So we were relying on the local guide who had a cell phone number for the Kuchis. He was 21 minutes late and held up the mission by 27 minutes. One guy holding up about three dozen soldiers and a mission should be flogged. The base at Chaghcharan sits at nearly 7,500 feet above sea level, so at night the Milky Way hovers in magnificence above the clean, dry air. But come morning, the stars fade as the sun rises with blinding vengeance. (READ MORE)

Castra Praetoria: The Daily Routine - 0500: Bounce out of the rack recharged and ready to take on the world! Kind of… Immediately I turn on the news only to discover that Michael Jackson is still dead. This is followed by the traditional Marine Corps ritual of shaving my nasty grill and brushing my fangs. The thought that one day I will retire and never, ever have to shave again is so rapturous that I nearly slit my own throat. 0530: PT at Crossfit Al Asad. This is in a tent stocked with various instruments designed to maximize agony and torment. It’s cool! Well, not while you’re crushing yourself it isn’t. This particular day’s workout involved 45 double-unders, 45 squat cleans with 135lbs, 45 ring dips, followed by a final round of 45 double-unders. All that work is to be done as fast as you can without spontaneously combusting into a living candle and melting into a whimpering pool of spittle and failure. Marines being the kind of guys we are we just have to beat everyone else in the room. (READ MORE)

Doc H's International Adventure: Arrival at Mazar-E-Sharif - Yesterday was an early day as we yet again loaded our luggage onto another truck. The person who did our transport coordination said we should be there in plenty of time to check in by the required 0730 time for a 0930 flight. Well once we got there the nice folks at the counter informed us that we were scheduled for the 0500 flight!! No not another few days stuck at Camp Phoenix! Luckily there was an additional flight later in the morning on a German plane. The German airman was very strict about everyone staying in their seats, so I didn't get a good veiw of the famed Hindu Kush as we flew over. It was very hot when we arrived at the airport at Mazar-E-Sharif. Amazingly the unit that runs Camp Spann loaded our luggage onto the trucks for transport. I got my first ride in an MRAP and I must say it felt very secure. On arrival to Camp Spann we were quickly introduced to the team we will be replacing. (READ MORE)

Free Range International: Heavy Weather - It has been a hectic first week back for me but having cleaned up the inbox I can now turn the gimlet eye onto the state of play in Afghanistan. And the state of play is not too good for the home team at the moment. Let’s review just the major events for yesterday to give all of you an idea on how bad things are getting. Yesterday the three things which popped up on our radar in the east were an ANP ambush which killed four police and dozens of civilians, the loss of Bargi Matal district in Nuristan – the Taliban flag went up over the District Administrative Center (DAC) at 1412 on the 9th of July, and a one round “Tinian shot” into the American combat outpost (COP) located around the Sirkanay DAC which blew up all their fuel stores and half of their vehicles. These incidents are part of a disturbing set of storm clouds on the horizon; we are heading into heavy weather when the storm breaks we are going to start losing people and losing them fast. (READ MORE)

In Iraq Now (at 56): Stress in a War Zone - A few days ago I went to a meeting at the base chapel about stress. In particular "Does your family back home raise or lower your stress level?" Since this was a group discussion about stress, I could assume people who were stressed out would attend. I was not quite prepared for how much soldiers are stressed out by their families back home. For much of the hour, I listened to folks who dread the calls home because their parents/significant others are worried sick about them and can't be easily persuaded to talk about anything else. (My family does what they can to keep me informed about their lives and tell me some of the funny things that happen in their lives.) The conversation that got the most nods of recognition was telling Mom that the attack in Baghdad they saw on TV was 300 miles away and had nothing to do with our base. And once they get Mom calmed down, things will be fine until the next time Mom watches the news then they have to go through the same litany again. (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: Mullah Fazlullah, Swat leadership safe: Taliban spokesman - Swat Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah and the rest of the group's most senior commanders have escaped the Pakistani government's operation, a Taliban spokesman said. Mullah Omar, a spokesman for the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, denied reports from the government and the military that Mullah Fazlullah had been gravely wounded during airstrikes in his home town of Imam Dehri. "Fazlullah is safe and the government claim is totally baseless," Omar told Pakistani journalists. He also said the Taliban leadership had gone underground "as part of their overall strategy" once the Army launched operations in Buner, Dir, and Swat, Daily Times reported. An unconfirmed report in the BBC seemed to corroborate the government's claims that Fazlullah is near death. (READ MORE)

Iraq the Model: And What About Those Uighurs? - After days of deadly ethnic clashes in China more than 180 individuals from the minority Muslim Uighur community located in the northwest region of Xinjiang China have been killed and thousands more injured or arrested. Rebiya Kadeer, representative of Uighur Muslims, in an interview with al-Sharq al-Awsat pleaded with Muslims across the world to support the Uighur people. Rebiya Kadeer, whose plea was sincere, was misguided to believe that given the gravity of the situation the Muslim world would come to the rescue. Perhaps Rebiya Kadeer expected the plea for support would be answered with angry protests, mobs setting embassies on fire, a fatwa from the Mullahs, or even a declaration of Jihad against China from Bin Laden. The “war”, after all is between Islam and its enemies, or so would the radicals and dictators in the Muslim world like people to believe. (READ MORE)

Ramblings from a painter: Random Thoughts - It's a scorcher today. We're getting into the full-blown heat of summer, with highs around 115 and lows in the upper 90's. Its the kind of heat that makes your metal eyeglass frames burn when they touch your cheek. Sunglasses are mandatory, or else you'll be blinded by the transition from indoors to out. Those of us who are office slugs almost never go out. I've shifted my jogging from tootling around the compound to pounding the treadmill in the air-conditioned gym. When its 100 degrees at 9 pm, I'm not going to jog outside! Walking over to the DFAC in the morning, I usually pass by a line of Iraqis waiting to go through security. I always say "sabah al khair" ("good morning") or "sala'amu aleikum" (peace be with you). You should see their faces light up! I guess they're used to Americans passing them by, or ignoring them, or something, but give them a greeting in Arabic and they're surprised and delighted. It's always good to start the day out with a smile. (READ MORE)

Sorority Soldier: Less than Expected - I was really looking forward to my Sunday off. Finally - a room with a powerful, working air conditioner that would allow me to lay in bed all day vegging out on sour patch kids, hot tamales and movies. The electricity first went off around 9:00. It kicked back on twenty minutes later.. false alarm, Thank God. Over the next hour it cut out twice, each time for about 20-30 minutes and by 1:00 it was worn out. I sat in the room for 30 minutes, getting hotter by the second as the sun baked down on my metal haven. Finally there was a knock at the door - Stone’s electricity was out, too - in fact half the LSA was out - and he was ready to escape to the chow hall for the joke of an a/c they provide. We spent about 45 minutes wasting time, hoping the a/c would be on in our rooms by the time we got back. Sure enough, it was. But the poor window unit just couldn’t catch up to the smoldering heat that had made it’s way into my pseudo-home. (READ MORE)

S4 at War: Security Agreement - We’ve had a Colonel from one of our higher headquarters here recently. As a result we’ve been getting a lot of interesting insight into Commander’s intent and our higher’s overall vision for the area. There have been a lot of nuances introduced to our mission with the implementation of the security agreement and each echelon of command has been issuing new guidance and intent. While I am regularly surprised at how far things have come over here there is still a great deal of impact we can have. Most of that impact is in the realm of stability operations-improving governance, civil services etc…A great deal of that work is done through city councils, police chiefs, and the leaders of various services. The problem is that our mobility is now restricted by the requirement to have ISF escorts-a great improvement and an indicator of their sovereignty but a significant hurdle all the same (note: military convoys in the U.S. almost always require a police escort as do U.S. military convoys in Europe/Japan/Korea etc…this is nothing unusual and a good sign of a return to normalcy). (READ MORE)

Sour Swinger: DVIDS Joint Patrol In Abu Ghraib - These pictures are from a patrol conducted in Abu Ghraib by my platoon. The Iraqi Police were there to assist. Unlike my previous DVIDs posts, I remember this mission well. It was here that SPC Chad Edmundson died the very next day due to wounds from an IED explosion. The Army has been occasionally embedding Combat Camera in our missions. Photos were taken by Captain Mindy A. Yu. I linked each pic to its free downloadable high res copy. There’s a total of 12 pics. The DVIDS mission is to serve as a turnkey operation that facilitates requests for Public Affairs video, audio, still imagery and print products; coordinates interviews with soldiers and commanders in a combat zone and provides an archive for ongoing operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. Basically, DVIDs is where the military official posts audio, video, images, news, etc relating to any current combat operation. Everything is DOD authorized to be released to the public. (READ MORE)

The Torch: US Marines in Helmand: "Operation Khanjar"/ Canadian general's view - Start of a post at The Canada-Afghanistan Blog: I'm a bit worried about linking to this article so early, because I have a feeling that tomorrow I'll read a blog post by a well-informed person (for example) blasting it for naivety or misguided intentions... Not necessarily yet, but an earlier post: US Marine realities in Helmand - Meanwhile, Paul at Celestial Junk posts about a Canadian's opinion: Physically, Morally - Broken In every conflict, climaxes that spell the beginning of the end for one side usually are signalled by increases, not decreases, in casualties on all sides. It happened in Iraq ... are we witnessing the same in Afghanistan? (READ MORE)

P.J. Tobia: This is what an IED looks like - I took this photo near Kandahar, about an hour’s drive outside the city. I blew the aperture way out so that you can see the bomb in greater detail. I’m told it was about 50 gallons of explosive liquid, hooked up to a cell phone (pictured bottom right.) If the phone rang, we would all have been vaporized. Luckily, US vehicles have cell-phone jammers. The IED was stuck in a culvert and found by some Afghan police before the convoy I was in drove over it. IED deaths and attacks have skyrocketed in Afghanistan since the “surge” began, mostly because insurgents know they can’t fight toe-to-toe with the heavy armor and air support fielded by the coalition. I was maybe twenty-feet from the culvert when I took this picture and the light-spots on the bomb are from mirrors that the soldiers used to reflect light onto the “subject.” (READ MORE)


News from the Front:
Iraq:
Medical truck trains Iraqi healthcare staff in equipment operation, maintenance - BAGHDAD, Iraq — Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq, renovated a mobile medical equipment training facility here in June for health care providers and technicians at Primary Healthcare centers and hospitals across Iraq. "Originally it was a simple blood laboratory and X-ray truck," said Mohamad Husam, deputy program manager, Operations, Maintenance and Sustainment division, GRD: (READ MORE)

Detainees released in Ramadi - AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Marines from Multi National Force - West facilitated the release of 39 detainees from U.S. custody and transferred five detainees who were wanted pursuant to a valid warrant to Iraqi Police custody July 12, in Ramadi. MNF-W followed a detailed release process to ensure the security of the people of Anbar and the safety of the detainees were not in jeopardy following the release. (READ MORE)

Leaders Attend Iraq Human Rights Conference - BAGHDAD – A 10-day conference on human rights began here July 12 to educate leaders in Iraq’s military and government of the importance of human rights. The conference is being attended by members of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Justice and the Red Crescent Organization, and is being held at the NATO headquarters. (READ MORE)

Iraqi military, government officials tour Camp Bucca TIF - CAMP BUCCA, Iraq — A delegation of 20 local Iraqi military and government officials visited and toured the Camp Bucca Theater Internment Facility July 9th to observe the care and custody of detainees. During the afternoon tour, the delegation from the area surrounding the facility had the opportunity to see where the detainees eat, sleep, learn and recreate. (READ MORE)

MND-N Soldier sentenced - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT, Iraq – A Multi-National Division - North Soldier was sentenced July 11, in the shooting death of a fellow Soldier. Sgt. Miguel A. Vegaquinones was sentenced to three years confinement, reduction in rank to private/E-1 and a dishonorable discharge. Vegaquinones pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of Pfc. Sean McCune. (READ MORE)

U.S. Air Force builds new Diyala Operations Center - BAGHDAD – Diyala, Iraq – After years of cooperation between Iraqi and U.S. security forces at the Diyala Operations Center, local ISF leaders and senior leaders of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division agreed to move the DOC to a new location outside Baqubah’s city limits. In conjunction with the June 30 deadline for U.S. combat forces to move out of Iraq’s cities, the DOC, a combined Iraqi – Coalition base located within the Diyala Governance Center, needed to be moved outside the provincial capital. (READ MORE)

Iraqi Air Force, Army Deliver Supplies to Local Communities - NAJAF — With the recent help of many organizations back in the United States, the Iraqi Provincial Government received three pallets of humanitarian relief supplies June 21 for distribution to the local populace here. “Helping people who are less fortunate is always a good thing whether in your home town or across the world,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Fred Harmon, deputy team leader for provincial reconstruction and project coordinator at Najaf. (READ MORE)

Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar Soldiers Scan the Basra Skies - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA — Pfc. Dustin Clark was manning the night shift when he heard the warning system go off. Beep, beep, beep. For six months, Clark, a Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar systems operator, watched the skies above Contingency Operating Base Basra for indirect fire attacks. For months there had been nothing. Now the system was alerting him to the fact that someone, somewhere, was firing rockets toward COB Basra. "Now it's time to do my job." (READ MORE)

‘Camouflage Angel’ Spends Last Moments With U.S. Combat Casualties - JOINT BASE BALAD — The emergency-room trauma call and the medical staff's immediate action upon his arrival is only a memory to her now; sitting quietly at the bedside of her brother-in-arms, she carefully takes his hand, thanking him for his service and promising she will not leave his side. He is a critically injured combat casualty, and she is Army Sgt. Jennifer Watson of the Casualty Liaison Team here. (READ MORE)


Afghanistan:
Forces in Afghanistan Detain Militants, Seize Weapons - WASHINGTON, July 10, 2009 – Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected militants yesterday during operations to disrupt Haqqani terrorist network activity in Afghanistan, military officials reported. Afghan and coalition forces searched two compounds last night in Khowst province in an effort to disrupt the flow of weapons, suicide bombers and foreign fighters into the region. (READ MORE)

Obama: 'Long way to go' in Afghanistan - London - The United States and its NATO allies have a long road ahead in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama told Britain's Sky News in an interview on Saturday during his visit to Ghana. "We knew this summer was going to be tough fighting... we still have a long way to go," he said in the interview which is to air Sunday. "All of us are going to have to do an evaluation after the Afghan election to see what more we can do." (READ MORE)

British leader defends Afghanistan mission - LONDON - The deaths of eight British soldiers in Afghanistan within 24 hours triggered a debate in Britain on Saturday that could undercut public support for the war just as the U.S. is ramping up its own participation in the conflict. With pictures of hearses and anguished relatives splashed across Britain's influential media, the government is under pressure to explain the reason for the soldiers' sacrifice and to defend the quality of its support for combat troops. (READ MORE)

Rethinking Strategy in Afghanistan - (CBS) Four thousand U.S. Marines pounded into Afghanistan's hostile Helmand province this month to take back territory from the Taliban. But they only had 600 Afghan troops fighting alongside them, reports CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier. The Marine commander there said he cannot hold this territory unless he gets more Afghan forces to help win the people's trust. (READ MORE)

Fresh violence in Afghanistan kills 30 militants - Four security guards were killed in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan yesterday, Afghan authorities said, also claiming to have killed up to 30 rebels amid a surge in violence. The new violence followed a bloody day for the Nato-led British force, which lost eight soldiers in attacks blamed on Taliban insurgents in the country's southern province of Helmand. (READ MORE)

White House: No grounds to probe Afghan war crimes - WASHINGTON Obama administration officials said Friday they had no grounds to investigate the 2001 deaths of Taliban prisoners of war who human rights groups allege were killed by U.S.-backed forces. The mass deaths were brought up anew Friday in a report by The New York Times on its Web site. It quoted government and human rights officials accusing the Bush administration of failing to investigate the executions of hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of prisoners. (READ MORE)

In 2007, Flight 93 Advisory Commission member Tim Baird told Alec Rawls (the author of these blogburst posts) that everyone at the meetings he attended is fully aware that the giant crescent, originally named the Crescent of Embrace, really does point almost exactly at Mecca. Professor Baird says they all just assume (himself included) that the Mecca orientation must be an innocent coincidence.

Pretty crazy, when they have also been told the meaning of a crescent that Muslims face into to face Mecca. Every mosque is built around a Mecca-direction indicator called a mihrab, and the classic mihrab is crescent shaped. Geometrically, the Crescent of Embrace is the world’s largest mihrab.

However honestly Project Partners believe that the Mecca orientation of the crescent must be a coincidence, this is not what they tell the public. When reporters asked Memorial Project Superintendent Joanne Hanley about the Mecca orientation, she denied it:

"The only thing that orients the memorial is the crash site," she said.

Thinking that the Mecca orientation of the crescent must be a coincidence in no way justifies lying to the public about this explosive information. If Baird’s account is accurate—that the dozens of Memorial Project Partners all know that the giant crescent actually does point to Mecca—then the Memorial Project has a lot of explaining to do. Now an overlooked article from 2007 corroborates Professor Baird’s information.


Dr. Glenn Kashurba

It turns out that a Pennsylvania psychiatrist who has been intimately involved with the memorialization of Flight 93 (writing two books on the subject) argued to a reporter before the July 2007 Memorial Project meeting that the Mecca-orientation of the giant crescent (which he took as a given) should be seen as coincidental:

“When you calculate angles to Mecca - I'm going to be in Washington, D.C., this week, and I'm sure if I calculate angles of the monuments, at least one points to Mecca,” Kashurba said. “I don't know if it will be the White House or the Lincoln Memorial, but at least one will. People looking for a way to support their way of looking at things will look at this in this way for ever and ever.”

If Dr. Kashurba was getting his information from the Memorial Project’s public statements, he would have denied that the crescent points to Mecca. Here is what Memorial Project Partner Patrick White told the press 9 days before the Kashurba story:

Rawls, of Palo Alto, Calif., contends that the centerpiece of the design points toward Mecca.

Rawls’ claims are untrue and “preposterous,” according to Patrick White, Families of Flight 93 vice president. “We went through in detail all his original claims and came away with nothing.”

Kashurba knew better, as did Patrick White himself. The week after his public denial, a local woman asked White how he could be okay with the Mecca orientation of the giant crescent. This time White did not deny the Mecca orientation, but argued that it cannot be seen as honoring Islam because the inexactness of the Mecca orientation would be "disrespectful" to Islam.


Mecca orientation takes literally 2 minutes to verify, starting from source documents

It is not surprising that these Memorial Project insiders would know that the giant crescent does in fact point almost exactly at Mecca (1.8° north of Mecca to be precise, ± 0.1°). After all, they had by the summer of 2007 been examining Rawls’ report, and answering questions from the press about it, for over a year, and the near Mecca orientation of the Crescent of Embrace is trivially easy to verify.

Just use any of the online Islamic prayer-direction calculators to print out the direction to Mecca from Somerset PA. Place this graphic over the Crescent site-plan on your computer screen, and you will see that the Mecca-direction line (which Muslims call “qibla”) almost exactly bisects the crescent:


The green circle in this image is from the qibla calculator at Islam.com (down at the moment, but you can use the one at Qibla.com, or QiblaLocator.com). A person standing between the tips of the giant crescent and facing into the center of the crescent will be facing almost exactly at Mecca.

Patrick White knows this and deceives the press and the public about it. Dr. Kashurba knows it and stands by as White and others deceive the press and the public about it. These deceptions have been blatant.


Everything points to Mecca?

The Project even went to far as to dig up an academic fraud from Texas, willing to deny that there is any such thing as the direction to Mecca:

Daniel Griffith, a geospatial information sciences professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, said anything can point toward Mecca, because the earth is round.

Was the reporter embarrassed to ask Muslims if they can really face any direction to face Mecca? Hard to blame her. Just to ask such a stupid question is to answer it, but the obviousness of the fraud is no excuse for letting it stand.

According to Professor Baird, every Memorial Project member who saw these denials knew that they were fraudulent, yet not one of them has tried to tell the public about the Project’s dishonest cover-up. When the truth does get out to the broader public, Project members are going to have a lot to answer for, which is presumably why they are keeping their mouths shut now. They have done a very bad thing and they don’t want it exposed.


What proves Islamic intent is the architect’s elaborate repetition of the Mecca orientation

No one ever claimed that the almost exact Mecca orientation of the Crescent of Embrace proves Islamic intent. Architect Paul Murdoch proves intent in a different way: by elaborate repetition of his Mecca orientations. His first confirmation of intent is to include an exact Mecca orientation.

In Murdoch’s explanation, the flight path breaks the circle, turning it into the giant crescent. To find this thematically defined crescent, remove those parts of the full Crescent of Embrace that extend out past the point where the flight path breaks the circle. The resulting true or thematic crescent points EXACTLY at Mecca:


At the upper tip of the crescent, the flight path comes down from the NNE and symbolically breaks the circle. What symbolically remains standing is the true or thematic Crescent of Embrace, pointing exactly at Mecca.

Murdoch’s next confirmation of intent is to exactly repeat this entire multi-Mecca oriented geometry in the vast array of crescents of trees that surround the Tower of Voices part of the memorial. Setting aside the chance that an architect could in the first place design a memorial to Flight 93 out of nothing but crescents just by innocent coincidence (which must be close to zero), the odds that these crescents would by random chance manifest Murdoch’s repeated Mecca orientations are 1 in 131 billion:




The only change was to include an explicitly broken off part of the circle

The original Crescent of Embrace design included the symbolically broken off parts at the upper crescent tip. When the bare naked Islamic-crescent shape caused a public uproar, the Memorial Project added another broken off part of the circle, floating out in front of the mouth of the original crescent.

They call it a broken circle now, but the unbroken part of the circle, the symbolic result of 9/11, is still a giant Islamic shaped crescent, still pointing EXACTLY at Mecca. That makes it a mihrab, the Mecca-direction indicator around which every mosque is built. The planned memorial is actually a terrorist memorial mosque.


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News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

Sour Swinger: (VIDEO) More Vids With Iraqi Kids - Another round of videos. This time with more personal interactions of me with the kids. There’s a couple cute ones here, a couple demonstrating the gathering phenomena, and one that a child took himself. Once again thank you to my step mom for taking the time to upload these. Enjoy everyone. (VIEW VIDEOS)

P.J. Tobia: Afghanistan’s Rape Problem - I have seen some awful things in my life, but the worst of them doesn’t come close to seeing the way that women are treated in this country. Dogs are treated with more respect in Afghanistan than most of the women I’ve seen. Kabul is a bit of an exception. I know many professional, educated Afghan women here, who move about freely. But woe to those women and girls in the rural provinces of this country. Today I got a sneak peek at a UN report about violence against women—and it looks like Reuters did too—that has yet to be published. The findings are sickening, and go way beyond Burkas. There isn’t a law against rape in this country, only one for having sex outside of marriage, a crime known as zina. This means that many rape victims are actually punished for being raped. Zina is punishable by death for both parties, but it is more common that the victim be forced to marry her rapist. (READ MORE)

P.J. Tobia: Captured Soldier Went AWOL in Afghanistan - On July 2, news broke that a soldier went missing from a base in eastern Afghanistan and ended up in the hands of the Haqqani network. I’ve just spoken with somebody who’s close to the people searching for this soldier. He told me that the guy went AWOL on his own, just wandering off the base. “The guy thinks he’s some kind of Zen master,” my source told me. “He had some crazy idea in his head that he was going to wander the countryside and discover the true meaning of life and death. He’ll probably find the “death” part o.k.” Not surprisingly, military brass and those who have to search for the missing soldier are furious and not a little annoyed. “It’s a Where’s Waldo mission,” my source told me. “Nobody likes that.” (READ MORE)

Afghanistan My Last Tour: Education is a vital component in winning this war - The past few weeks in my spare time I have been reading about counterinsurgency (COIN) doctrine and advice. I am trying to get a better grasp of the mentoring process and hone some of my problem solving skills. There was one piece of advice that really stood out to me in reference to problem resolution. The author said “If you do not understand relationships, people, cultural economics, human terrain, and all those related issues, you will only see the symptoms rather than diagnosing the problem.” I have taken this to heart and agree with the author on this subject. The current situation in Afghanistan is very fluid and we are attempting to tip the balance of the scales by winning the hearts and minds of the people. This is so much easier said than done, specifically when you discuss the dynamics of using non-kinetic forces. In COIN, killing the enemy is easy, but finding him is often nearly impossible unless you have the cooperation of the villagers and the citizens. (READ MORE)

The Canada-Afghanistan Blog: A Rather Tumultuous Day - Iraq experiences the most violent 24 hours since the withdrawal of American soldiers from its cities: upwards of 41 are killed in bombings across the country. Iranian security forces are working to contain mass protests, beating protesters in the streets and arresting at will. Power to the people, man. The Ayatollahs are in trouble. In Afghanistan, we learn that this has been the most violent of month of the entire war for Coalition forces, that IED attacks in the country are "shattering records", two more NATO soldiers were killed in Helmand by a roadside bomb, and that an improvised bomb hidden in a timber truck in Logar province killed 21 civilians and 4 police officers--half the dead are children. Four Canadian soldiers have died in the past 7 days, and at least eight have been injured. (READ MORE)

SGM Troy Falardeau: Promotions abound - What a week! In all my years in the Army Reserve, I have never seen anything like this. Am I talking about the dust storms or the 130 degree heat? NO! I am talking about the SIX promotions in the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center in the past 48 hours. Yep, you read that right. The first five Soldiers were recommended for promotion during a junior enlisted board held here in the International Zone on July 7. The enlisted Soldiers recommended were: SGT(P) Jeremy Fowler - SGT(P) Paul Roberts - SGT(P) Bryan Tull - SPC(P) Autumn Hope - SPC(P) Roshonda Thurston - We are hoping to be able to announce their official promotion dates soon, but until then, they will have the (P) behind their current rank. (READ MORE)

1SG Martinez: Enough With the Dust and Heat Already - I'm sure you're tired of hearing about it, but I assure you that you are not as tired of hearing about it as we are in living in it. This is how a dust storm really looks. Imagine having this hanging in the air 24 hours a day for days on end. It gets in your hair, your teeth your throat, your lungs and licking your lips to rescue them from the heat of the day only ends up with a tongue full of dust. I just know the day will come when some medical study, sponsored by the VA, will reveal that soldiers serving in Iraq are likely to suffer from some respiratory disease in connection with breathing this stuff for a year. Mark my words! On a given morning you can wake from a nights rest to find that a layer of dust, not small amount, has settled on every exposed surface in your room. This is a sure sign a dust storm has arrived. Another tell tale sign of the advent of a dust storm is the color of the sunlight filtering through the suspended dust in the air. (READ MORE)

Far From Perfect: Army Bacon and the Dentist - So this morning I went into our food locker for my daily bowl of Apple Jacks or Frosted Flakes, but all that was left was Special K (ugh!). I was actually pretty hungry as breakfast has become the defacto start to my day lately. Next to the cereal was the unadorned brown and green plastic boxes that are known military wide as mermites, and despised just as widely. For those who don’t know mermites are big insulated plastic boxes that hold food either warm or or cold. They make eggs turn green and hard, toast go soft, and for some reason one always contains gravy, no matter what the meal is. Anyway, this mornings mermites included french toast, eggs, bacon and sausage, and gravy. I grabbed a plate and helped myself to some french toast and bacon. I went and sat down at the table and began eating and talking to some fellow medics. I bit down on some bacon, hit what I thought was gristle, and threw it on the ground. (READ MORE)

Ghosts of Alexander: Kunduz goes into the recycle bin - I will return to the Kandahar incident next week. For now I’m just going to make a short post that will break one of my promises. As an intro, the title above refers to Kunduz, a city/province in the north that is not doing so well lately. The BBC saw fit to do a little write-up recently: “A recent spate of attacks by the Taliban and al-Qaeda has altered the face of Kunduz beyond all recognition. ‘The Taliban have closed girls’ schools in the districts. They collect taxes from people and they have their own courts. The governor was attacked and the Taliban are in the villages. All because Kunduz is ignored by our president and ministers in Kabul,’ said a group of elders over endless cups of green tea in the provincial capital. [...] In recent months, Kunduz has felt the consequences of the Taliban presence – a senior Afghan government official was shot dead while driving to the Tajikistan border and four US soldiers were recently killed by a roadside bomb.” This is not exactly a revelation. Kunduz has obviously, for anyone who cared to notice, been going downhill progressively for at least a couple of years now. (READ MORE)

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan: Insurgents begin to feel the pinch of British and American ops - As the British-led Operation Panther’s Claw and US-led Operation River Liberty pushed on across tough terrain, strewn with IEDs, Governor Mangal reassured the Afghan people that very definite progress was being made: “The places that were underneath the insurgents are now with the government. We can now look to the future and reconstruction projects, where the people can have a say in rebuilding their own villages.” Brigadier General Mohaiyodin, local Commander of the Afghan National Army hailed the joint Afghan-ISAF operations as a continuing success. “These operations are different compared to the others. All three sides, British, US and Afghan discussed plans before the operations began and decided on a definite plan targeting places controlled by the Taliban. We feel we can achieve a lot for the Afghan government and the local people in these areas.” (READ MORE)

In Iraq Now (at 56): The Bike Guy - When I first got to Tallil Ali Air Base, I met a sergeant in public affairs who rides daily and told me that if I ever had a problem with a bike, I should call/email Larry--a civilian computer technician who is retired military and really likes working on bikes. It turns out Larry is also a very personable guy who is happy to help soldiers. Like most civilians here he works 12 to 14 hour shifts with a day or two off each month, so his time is limited. But when he can he works on bikes. While I was home on leave, Larry trued my out-of-round front wheel on the single-speed road bike and cleaned it up. Then when the mountain bike arrived, the rear disc brake rotor had been bent in transit. He could not straighten it completely with the tools he has, but it is nearly perfect now in a less-than-perfect environment. Military communities like this one are very much communities in ways that most American communities are not. (READ MORE)

Jalalabad Fab Lab blog: Fab Folk return to Af - your help? - A FabFolk session is planned for August 22 to the first couple of weeks of September. Big tasks include finishing settling in to the new fab lab site at the sharwali, upgrading to FabFi 2.0, establishing the tech lending library, and lots of Shopbot and related large scale NC machining skills. Additionally we’ll check up on existing business clubs, encourage the spinning up of new ones, pull together all the “deliverables” from the summer internships, and possibly venture in the digital pathology area. We could use help in country with Shopbot training and uses. You must arrive already knowing how to use a Shopbot PRS Alpha and the Windows based Part Works / Part Wizard. The goal is not for you to make things but to teach Afghans how to use the Shopbot with hands-on projects. We have a high speed spindle in Jalalabad. We also need help getting FabFi 2.0 ready - this is networking, routing, meshing stuff and needs to be done before arriving. (READ MORE)

Knottie's Niche: Rubberbands.... - Everyone has a habit that is a little different or strange. That little thing that they do that make people wonder why they do it. Pokey always wore a rubberband on his wrist. Not sure why or how it started. It was just something he had done since early high school. About the same time he became "Pokey". He would say it was lucky and a handy weapon. He could be in a tux and have a rubberband on his wrist. The first box I sent him in Iraq I asked his brothers and sister if they wanted to add anything. Pokey's youngest brother handed me a rubberband. "He needs his rubberband". So I wrote on it.. " from Tojo for luck" (Tojo is the nickname Pokey called his youngest brother) I look at videos and pictures of Pokey in Iraq and sure enough he has that rubberband on his wrist. In January he asked me to have Tojo send him another one cause the one he had was wearing out. So I bought a bag of rubberbands and decided to send him a bunch.. all with messages written on them from his friends and family. (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: US releases Iranian Qods Force agents - The US military recently released five Iranian Qods Force agents who had posed as diplomats and were detained in northern Iraq in late 2006. The Iranian agents were released to the Iraqi government, which is expected to promptly turn them back over to Iran. In January 2007, the five Iranian agents were detained by US forces in the Kurdish city of Irbil. Iran claimed the men were part of a diplomatic mission in Irbil, and protested the arrest. The men were operating from a liaison office that did not enjoy diplomatic privileges, however. The US military accused the five Iranians of being Qods Force agents assigned to help support Shia terror groups inside Iraq. "The five detainees are connected to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard – Qods Force (IRGC-QF), an organization known for providing funds, weapons, improvised explosive device technology and training to extremist groups attempting to destabilize the Government of Iraq and attack Coalition forces": (READ MORE)

Michael J. Totten: The Future of Iraq, Part III - The United States has basically won the war in Iraq. No insurgent or terrorist group can declare victory or claim Americans are evacuating Iraq’s cities because they were beaten. America's most modest foreign policy objectives there have been largely secured. Saddam Hussein's toxic regime has been replaced with a more or less consensual government. I doubt very much that Iraq will seriously threaten the United States or its neighbors any time soon. It isn't likely to be ruled by terrorists as it probably would have been if the United States left between 2004 and 2007. It’s a relief. A few years ago, I was all but certain the U.S. would withdraw under fire and leave Iraq in the hands of militias. Even so, many have a hard time feeling optimistic about the future. Iraq remains, in some ways, a threat to itself. The reduction in violence and the winding down of the conflict allowed me to see the country a little more clearly than I could when I first visited Baghdad. (READ MORE)

LTC John: Dishonor - I just happened to have been in the same Task Force as this admitted criminal. For the first 5 months in country, I was the Task Force XO, and he was the S-4. Really, I was an XO in name only, as my real responsibilities were dealing with the massive influx and departure of thousands of troops through BAF. I clashed with West many times, and thought very little of him - but never got into a position to do anything substantive about him. When our Task Force changed names (from Dragon to Eagle) and mission (we were given Civil Affairs and Security responsibility for a 100km square area around BAF) I moved over to the Civil Affairs job (S-5) and found that while dealing with CERP (Commander's Emergency Response Program) funds, West was sloppy, but not criminal. Probably because I had oversight of the money...and he knew I didn't care for him one whit. Just before we left Afghanistan, one of his partners in crime was caught. (READ MORE)

SFC Burke - My Point of View: Educational Opportunities Abound for Deployed 1st Cavalry Soldiers - BAGHDAD – One word sums up what a post-secondary education creates for someone: Opportunity. A person with a college degree, on average, can earn twice as much, or more, in their lifetime compared to someone who only has a high school diploma. A degree from an accredited college or university can be a key that opens the door to a promising future. A deployed Soldier, however, cannot always attend the college of their choice and must work around their busy schedule to earn a degree online. An increasing number of Soldiers are doing just that with the help of the Staff Sgt. Russell J. Verdugo Education Center here on Camp Victory. Between 700 to 1,000 service members a week pass through the doors for counseling and assistance in their quest for higher education. (READ MORE)

Notes From Iraq: 08JUL09--Making Room - Today, the team spent the day packing, cleaning and moving out of our rooms so that the new team can move in right away. Not always but often times outgoing units vacate their living quarters in order to facilitate the new unit in getting to their jobs right away. The outgoing unit packs up, which prepares them for their upcoming redeployment and squares away odds and ends. Then incoming unit unpacks directly into what might be their living quarters for the next year. My 10-man team now lives in three 18” x 12” trailers that we normally use as our conference and morale rooms. Things are somewhat more cramped, but it is somewhat comforting to have togetherness and shared experiences. Besides we will be home in our own beds in roughly three weeks. No one complains about conditions at this point in a deployment. On the outgoing team, that is. (READ MORE)

The Writings of a Man's Man: Martha Stewart Living, Ranger Style…Part 2 - My first stab at culinary blogging essentially introduced the MRE in all of its glory, or lack thereof, and introduced some basic recipes. Entertaining though those recipes may have been they were the culinary equivalent of making Easy Mac. Not exactly cutting edge. When you are sitting beneath a low slung poncho hooch doing your best to stay out of the driving rain and your buddy comes over to trade a little bull and spoon for warmth (I kid you not, Ranger School during the winter may be the only place in modern society where you can find fully straight men spooning with absolutely no shame) you’ll need a recipe to impress him. My next MRE recipe will do just that, Cherry Cheese Cake made completely from an MRE, astonishingly simple and brilliant in its creative combination of ingredients. If you’ve ever tried these ingredients your initial reaction may be one of appalled shock, it won’t be until you actually try this sterling example of haute cuisine, ranger style, that your mind and taste buds will begin to open. (READ MORE)


News from the Front:
Iraq:
Iraqi Special Operations Forces arrest 8 suspected terrorists in Baghdad - BAGHDAD – An element of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, along with Coalition force advisors, arrested eight suspected terrorists during an intelligence-driven operation in the Iraqi capital July 9. During the Iraqi-led mission, the Soldiers were operating under the authority of a warrant issued by the Criminal Investigative Court of Karkh. The group of alleged terrorists, suspected to be operating as an insurgent cell, was apprehended in accordance with the Republic of Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Law. (READ MORE)

U.S. Forces respond to rocket attack in Basra province - BASRA PROVINCE, Iraq – U.S. forces responded to a suspected rocket attack in Basra province today. Explosions were heard in the vicinity of a Coalition Patrol Base at approximately 1:49 p.m. Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 10th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, were contacted to investigate the cause of the explosion. (READ MORE)

National Police arrest suspected terrorist supplier - TIKRIT, Iraq – The National Police Justice Battalion, with Coalition force advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist July 8, during an operation in the Salah ad-Din province, with a warrant issued by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. The arrested individual is suspected of supplying terrorists in Salah ad-Din with grenades used against the Iraqi people and Iraqi Security Forces. He is also believed to be responsible for emplacing roadside bombs. (READ MORE)

Emergency Response Brigade arrests suspected key leader of terrorist network in Ladafiyah - BAGHDAD – The Emergency Response Brigade, along with Coalition force advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist during an intelligence-driven operation in Ladafiyah, Iraq, July 8. During the Iraqi-led, early-morning operation, the elite police force was operating under the authority of a warrant issued by a Criminal Investigative Court in Baghdad. (READ MORE)

Center Declared Fully Operationally Capable - BAGHDAD – U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander, NATO Training Mission- Iraq visited the National Operations Centers here July 6 to declare Full Operational Capability. Helmick presented a certificate to Staff Brig. Gen. Muhamed Fadhel Abbas, deputy director general of the National Operations Center, in honor of the NOC achieving this status. The three National Operations Centers in Baghdad have now achieved full operational capability. (READ MORE)

“Signs” of the Security Agreement - FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq— Residents of Kirkuk city can expect to see a new addition to the U.S. military vehicles that sometimes drive through their city. Since the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraqi cities, in accordance with the Security Agreement, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, has begun adding signs reading “Iraqi partnership provincial approved convoy. Thank you for your patience and support” to the sides of their vehicles. (READ MORE)

Criminals trigger Improvised Explosive Device near civilians in Amarah - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – A combined patrol led by Iraqi Security Forces was attacked by a roadside bomb in Amarah July 8. The IED detonated near a U.S. vehicle from the 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, traveling as part of a convoy coordinated between Coalition Forces and Iraqi Police from Maysan province. No Soldiers were injured. (READ MORE)

Engineers Improve Liberty Access Road - BAGHDAD — The U.S. Army Reserve 277th Engineer Company just wrapped up resurfacing and upgrades to the roadways connecting Camp Liberty and Camp Victory, relieving congestion caused from the use of smaller roads. The 277th Soldiers realize their work will assist with transporting various assets and resources. "Local civilians and local Soldiers are stopping and thanking us for the road construction. In our eyes this feels like a success, with hearing the gratitude from fellow Soldiers." said Staff Sgt. George Velez, 277th Eng. Co. (READ MORE)

Vehicle Signs Announce New U.S. Role - KIRKUK — Since the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraqi cities, and in accordance with the Security Agreement, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, has begun adding signs reading “Iraqi partnership provincial approved convoy. Thank you for your patience and support” to the sides of their vehicles. U.S. Forces serving in an advisory and assistance role continue to travel within the city to meet with their Iraqi counterparts or government officials. (READ MORE)

Clean Water Flows in Mosul Rural Areas - MOSUL — In the rural areas outside this city, U.S. Soldiers are helping local villagers obtain running water by repairing and building water pumping stations in eight different locations of the Qayyarah Sub-District in Ninewa province. Four of the water stations were completed June 27, which included a ribbon cutting ceremony at each of those stations. Lt. Col. Michael J. Fadden, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment commander, attended each of the ribbon cutting ceremonies with the mayor of Qayyarah, who thanked Fadden and his Soldiers for their assistance and financial support. (READ MORE)

Iraqis Lead Convoy Through Baghdad - BAGHDAD — The Iraqi National Police (NP) and Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) joined forces for convoy operations July 5 - 6, to comply with U.S./Iraq Security Agreement articles. The NP led a convoy through the streets of the Iraqi capital, supporting a U.S. Army mission to transport Americans to various locations. The well-coordinated movement took the convoy through city streets and on highways. The convoy aggressively moved through the traffic as Iraqi citizens moved to roadsides to let the convoy through. (READ MORE)


Afghanistan:
Airmen Attain Combat Milestone in Afghanistan - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 10, 2009 – Airmen here hit a major milestone July 8 when they completed their 2,000th combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. An EC-130H Compass Call crew assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing's 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron and deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., flew the milestone mission, providing direct support to coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. (READ MORE)

Mechanics Keep Troops Rolling in Afghanistan - NANGAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, July 9, 2009 – The eastern Afghanistan terrain is demanding, not only on soldiers, but also on their equipment. Keeping vehicles running is essential to mission success. That’s the job of Army Pfc. Jonathan M. Hall, a native of Elizabethtown, Ky., and a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic who serves with Task Force Mountain Warrior here with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, out of Fort Carson, Colo. (READ MORE)

Soldier Honored for Valor, Recalls Ambush - WASHINGTON, July 9, 2009 – The fifth Army Reserve soldier to earn the Silver Star since the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001 spoke about his experience in a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable July 6. Army Spc. David Hutchinson of the 420th Engineer Brigade discussed the actions that earned him the third-highest award for valor in combat. On May 21, 2008, Hutchinson said he and his fellow soldiers from the 420th Engineer Brigade were en route to Sharana, Afghanistan, in preparation for relieving the 36th Engineer Brigade when they were ambushed. (READ MORE)

Afghans’ Attitude Will Be Measure of Success, Vice Chairman Says - WASHINGTON, July 9, 2009 – A key measurement of success in Afghanistan will be the attitude of Afghans affected by U.S.-led operations, the military’s second-ranking military officer said today. Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the counterinsurgency mission in Afghanistan elevates the civilian population as a main determinant of success or failure, much as it did in Iraq. (READ MORE)

Partnership With Pakistan Key to Regional Stability, Mullen Says - WASHINGTON, July 9, 2009 – A long-term partnership with Pakistan is key to promoting stability in Afghanistan and the region, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said yesterday. “I’ve been to Pakistan 11 or 12 times over the last year, year and a half,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told a National Press Club audience. “And I think it represents the importance of both the engagement of the Pakistan military … and the importance of the country, and in fact, the importance of the region, to try to create stability.” (READ MORE)

More Mine-resistant Vehicles Flow to Afghanistan - WASHINGTON, July 9, 2009 – Because improvised explosive devices pose the biggest threat to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the nation’s top military officer said yesterday, the military is flowing thousands of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles there until new versions built specifically for the Afghan terrain are ready for shipment. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told a National Press Club audience that IEDs have become “more and more sophisticated over time.” Combined with increasingly sophisticated Taliban attacks, they pose an increasing threat to deployed troops, he said. (READ MORE)

Remains of Seven U.S. Troops Killed in Afghanistan Returned Home - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., July 8, 2009 – The remains of seven American troops killed July 6 during combat operations in Afghanistan returned to their nation during a dignified transfer here this afternoon. Twenty-six family members from every region of the country stood on the tarmac witnessing their loved one's return. Subdued voices of the carry team leaders directed their teams to perform precise movements as they transferred their comrades-in-arms from the C-17 aircraft to a waiting vehicle. (READ MORE)

Protecting Civilians Leads New Afghanistan Strategy - WASHINGTON, July 8, 2009 – Combat operations with some 4,000 Marines began last week in southern Afghanistan and an influx of additional forces represents a big step toward carrying out a more comprehensive U.S. strategy there, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told a National Press Club audience today he’s encouraged by the regional focus of the strategy and its emphasis on building capacity in the economic, agricultural, governance and other civilian realms. (READ MORE)

~~~
Linked by: H&I FIRES 10 June 2009 at Castle Argghhh!

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Trooper Christopher Whiteside of The Light Dragoons was killed in Afghanistan on 7 July 2009.

Trooper Whiteside was killed in an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device near Gereshk in Helmand province.

He had been taking part in Operation PANCHAI PALANG, a task force operation to clear Babaji and Malgir of insurgents and restore government control before the national elections in August

Trooper Whiteside was serving in The Light Dragoons Battle Group, which began its clearance operation on 3 July

Trooper Christopher WhitesideTrooper Christopher Whiteside, or 'Norm' to his friends, was deployed as part of Emsdorf Troop, a Light Dragoons' Troop operating in the dismounted role as a Fire Support Group for A Company, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (2 MERCIAN

Trooper Whiteside was born on 22 August 1988 in Blackpool. He joined the Army in July 2005 as an Infanteer in The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR). Having served with the QLR for just over one year, he was discharged after suffering a serious knee injury. But still determined to serve his country, he joined up again when fully fit as a formation reconnaissance soldier in The Light Dragoons in March 2008.

Trooper Whiteside, initially quiet on arriving at regimental duty in November 2008, thrived in Afghanistan. His hardworking nature, concern for others and selflessness endeared him to all who worked alongside him.

As a small group of Light Dragoons attached to an infantry company, his troop had a very different challenge to the rest of the regiment, which brought them closer still.

Trooper Whiteside was on his first tour of Afghanistan. He leaves behind his mother Diane and her partner Malcolm, as well as younger brother Dan.

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

111 Infantry Recon: Some Recent Mission photos

MAJ C: Actions Speak Louder Than Words - I am going to preface this post with the simple fact that this is not written about every journalist out there. I have worked with and met many who are trying to do the right thing, and whom I have the utmost respect for. I have had the great honor of having some wonderful Americans embedded with me overseas. I can not say enough about you. But, this post is not about them. It is not about those who are trying to do the right thing. It is not about those who are trying to actually tell the American People about our wonderful Soldiers and what is going on in the world. This is about the rest of them. Those who right now, after what I have seen over the last 48 hours, I do not have the time of day for and will not be watching or reading ever again. Over the last 48 hours seven American Service Members have been killed in Afghanistan. Since July 1st I believe there has been 10 US, 2 Canadian, and 2 British Soldiers killed. In addition to this tragedy, we have had Operation Khanjar ongoing, and continued operations in Iraq. How much of this has been seen in the news? Almost nothing! (READ MORE)

Bouhammer: Give Me Your Ammo - “Give me your ammo and I will take it out to the observation post (OP).” This is what I told my active duty counterpart after one of our joint (US and Afghan) OPs had been in a firefight. I was the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the company size element of Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and my fellow active duty CPT was the OIC of the company of US soldiers at this small, remote Forward Operating Base (FOB) near the Afghan-Pakistan border. The problem that my fellow CPT was having was the issue with the weather and the limitations it puts on our forces. The weather had taken a turn for the worse and it placed a restriction on movement outside the wire. At least for US forces. This is where I was trying to convince him that I could move with my ANA forces regardless of the weather (although not recommended), and I could re-supply the OP as both the ANA and US forces were dangerously low on ammo after the latest attack. To me, this was an easy choice. (READ MORE)

Bad Dogs and Such: Random Day - Having failed at sleeping through an entire day here (although we're up roughly one eight-hour nap after each three-hour period of verticality), we futzed around and tried to stay busy. First, there was the Chair of Death. Buying "local" is encouraged here - anything to stimulate the Iraqi economy. Sometimes, though, it would be nice if we could have gotten some office chairs from, I dunno...another economy that could use some stimulation. See, the local stuff kinda...sucks. So we tried to fix it. This is the test of the first iteration of repairs. Back to the drawing board... After about four tries we got it stabilized enough to stop whoever was sitting in front of the secure computer from occasionally being launched backward onto the floor. That pretty much qualified as a "win." So we went shopping! (READ MORE)

Castra Praetoria: Comm Check - Hey Everyone, This is not America's 1st Sgt, just a minion. Seems communication is down for a bit of time due to some computer issues on his end. While we await his arrival back to camp, I thought I'd put up a video of one of their sister companies, Lima, taking care of business during their battalion's last deployment, 2007-2008. On that deployment, America's 1st Sgt was knocking heads and getting the job done in Kilo, another line company in America's Battalion. The video gives an idea of where and what some of his battalion's Marines were up to during their deployment to and around Karmah, a town just outside of Fallujah and one of the last hot spots at the time in Anbar Province. (READ MORE)

Sgt Danger: Boxers - I think I left my underwear in New Jersey. Seriously. After a HET course in Kansas, paperwork in Minnesota, PowerPoint in Washington, weapons familiarization in Wisconsin, convoy training in New Jersey, paternal leave at home, refueling stops in Iceland and Germany, and a brief stay in a hard-to-pronounce "-stan"… my fellow soldiers and I have finally arrived in Afghanistan. And it is glorious to behold. Well, that is if you think dirt, concertina wire, and a poop pond where all the Port-O-Potty water goes is glorious. We flew in on a C-17, a more comfortable (but still tactical) ride. It was noisy, there was no in-flight movie, and we had to wear our body armor… but the air conditioning worked and we even had a bathroom on board. (I remember "holding it" through a 4-hour, 115-degeree C-130 flight from Iraq to Kuwait. Ouch.) I spent most of the trip with iPod headphones in, but dozed off for a little while too. (READ MORE)

In Iraq Now (at 56): News Updates - Tomorrow I go to the second meeting for my newest additional duty job. My new job is to be the public affairs sergeant for the battalion I am in--that's the group of 600 soldiers. I am already doing the same thing for my company--100 soldiers. I do not know what level of work it will mean beyond what I am doing already. Sometime this month I will be going to some of the remote sites where our fuelers work. Best case is I will be flying in a Blackhawk. It should be fun however it works out and I will get to see the folks who I haven't seen for nearly two months. My roommate returns soon. Nice guy, but it has been fun to have a room to myself. I have three seasons of The Wire on DVD which he wanted to watch. I have seasons 1, 3 and 4. I might ask Santa Claus for seasons 2 and 5. It's an HBO original if you have never seen it. (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: Marines push south in Operation Dagger - The US Marine Corps has established a new combat outpost in southern Helmand province to block the Taliban's movement from the Pakistani border and deny the Taliban a safe haven. Combat Outpost Payne is "the farthest south Marine Unit in Afghanistan," said Captain Chris Annunziata. "Everything that happens south of the river depends on us." Payne "will serve as a logistical center for all operations that will eventually take place south of the river along the border with Pakistan," the US military reported. Another combat outpost is planned for the region. The Marines have yet to secure the district center of Dishu, southwest of Khanishin. The establishment of Combat Outpost Payne, which overlooks the city of Khanishin on the Helmand River, is part Operation Dagger, a massive operation designed to secure the southern half of Helmand province. The Marines took control of Khanishin during the first day of Dagger. (READ MORE)

Misuchan's Milblog: Almost Done - Hello everyone, well my 15 month deployment is almost done. We only have 1 month and 3 weeks left. Everyday that passes by is just another day closer for me seeing my family. As Misuchan has stated, we want to thank everyone for their support. Me and Misuchan have been here for almost 13 months now. I can’t wait to get out of here. But yea, i want to thank everyone for the support through this deployment. It has been rough and we have lost some good soldiers and friends. But they will never be forgotten. The french here have been a major help in the fight again Terrorism. I want to wish the soldiers that are coming to replace us a safe deployment and may god bless them throught these hard times. I have made some good friends that have served with me during my 15 month deployment. I still keep in contact and they reply to me when they have a chance. (READ MORE)

Notes From Iraq: Iraqis vs. Yellow Gold - Iraqi men do not commonly wear yellow gold. Maybe 1 in 20 do. The reasons are religious, cultural, and supposedly scientific, but, above all, they are surprising. "The wearing of silk and gold has been made unlawful for males and lawful for the females of my nation.'' Many Iraqis believe that the religion of Islam forbids men from wearing gold but allows women. While this rule does not derive from the Quran, it is directly recorded in the sunnah, which is a record of traditions and actions of the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). The reality is that Muslims mimic the manner that he lived daily life. Culturally, an Iraqi man who wears yellow gold is perceived as vain, as he attempts to make himself look more beautiful. Coupled with an understanding of science, this is why Iraqi men prefer white gold or platinum. (READ MORE)

Joshua Foust: It’ll Be a Doozy - So buried in this ridiculous, misleading Danger Room post is a tidbit from ABC correspondent Gretchen Peters: “Helmand province is the center of opium production and provides almost 90 percent of the world’s supply. The Taliban get 70 percent of their money to buy supplies and fund attacks from opium, according to Gretchen Peters, author of Seeds of Terror: How Heroin Is Bankrolling the Taliban and al Qaeda.” Okay, so I got a review copy of her book yesterday and I’ve been reading it. Let’s just say the 70% claim is ridiculous on its face, and her footnote in her book is not convincing. She also takes all the UNODC numbers and ignores the State Department numbers for opium cultivation patterns, with no explanation for why one is preferable over the other (I could guess, since UNODC makes it all seem worse, but that’ll be in the review). (READ MORE)

Sorority Soldier: Independence Day in Basra - We didn’t shoot off any illegal fireworks for the 4th, although we could have probably put on a good show with tracers and grenades. We did however celebrate like full-blooded Americans - with a cookout. In true trailer trash fashion, we set up a collapsible grill between outside the conference trailer and brought over chips, burgers, hot dogs and “near beer” (non-alcoholic coors) from the chow hall. The meat was all cooked and frozen (in that order) when we got it, so it was just a matter of heating it back up. I can’t say it was the best burger that I had, but it was the 4th of July and dangit, eating burgers is just what you do. The guys smoked some cigars and we sat around with our near beer (and my diet coke) sharing stories of traveling in Iraq. I think the funniest has to be Barney’s story about throwing up on the C-130 when he left for leave. He got sick and had nothing to puke in except for his hygiene bag - talk about ironic. (READ MORE)

The Stone Report: My Birthday Box and BBQ - The MND-S Public Affairs shop had a BBQ on July 4th. It was a real nice time. We smoked cigars, drank Coors NonAlcoholic Beer, and put some precooked burgers on the grill. We all hung out together for about three hours and didn’t talk that much shop. It was a nice break from the everyday grind of our Iraqi camping trip/war/statebuilding. The highlight of my night was when Smith was trying to act gay and sit on Raley’s leg. Then Raley up and bit him on the boob. Who thought I had to come to Iraq to see that? I just happened to be in the right place at the right time with my camera. I also received my birthday box from Leslie. She sent me everything from magazines, to a book on exposing the lies of Che Guevera and the useful idiots who idolize him, to cocoa rice krispy treats and her famous sugar cookies with icing, to Joe T. Garcia’s salsa and tortillas. Since we are separated, her love language is gift giving. (READ MORE)

The Writings of a Man's Man: Update From Baghdad - National Sovereignty Day for Iraq was just a little over a week ago, when the Iraqi government took back operational control over their cities and the US troops were ordered out of their cities. Well, as I reported a week ago, we aren’t all out of the cities however things have changed a lot. The Iraqis truly have taken responsibility for security in Baghdad. We have nearly completely scaled back operations and frozen our movement in the cities. The National Police have been doing an excellent job securing the area at least in my area violence has appreciably dropped to almost nil with the Iraqis in control. This development, though excellent from a soldiers stand point (trust me, sitting on your outpost and doing nothing beats trudging through dirty streets in 60 pounds of gear on a 120 degree afternoon) is beginning to pose some interesting problems. My soldiers who use tobacco are beginning to run out, and its not like they can run to Walmart to pick up another can of Copenhagen. (READ MORE)



News from the Front:
Iraq:
Detainees released in Anbar - AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Marines from Multi National Force - West facilitated the release of 17 detainees from U.S. custody and transferred one detainee who was wanted pursuant to a valid warrant to Iraqi Police custody July 7, in Anbar. MNF-W followed a detailed release process to ensure the security of the people of Anbar and the safety of the detainees were not in jeopardy following the release. Marines from MNF-W coordinated with the Iraqi Police to transfer the detainee who was wanted pursuant to a warrant. Other detainees were released near their place of residence. (READ MORE)

Historic Hospital Transitions to Government of Iraq Control - BAGHDAD –Baghdad’s historic Ibn Sina Hospital will return to Iraqi Government control this Fall. In accordance with the Iraq Security Agreement, U.S. forces are scheduled to return the facility to the Iraqis on Oct. 1. Currently operated by the U.S. Army’s 10th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), the staff will continue to provide quality healthcare for all patients throughout the next two months of transition. (READ MORE)

HMLA-169’s OIF detachment to join squadron in Afghanistan - AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – After serving in Iraq for approximately three months, a detachment of Marines from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 will soon join the remainder of their squadron serving in Afghanistan. “This is an amazing opportunity for every Marine within the squadron, because there aren’t a whole lot who get to serve in two operational theaters within one deployment,” said Maj. Gerry Kearney, detachment officer-in-charge for HMLA-169. More than half of the squadron is already in Afghanistan, and the remaining Marines will soon join their counterparts. (READ MORE)

Iraqi liaison officers new addition to U.S. brigade in Kirkuk - FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq – A group of Iraqi liaison officers have begun working side-by-side with Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, to improve security and coordination. The liaison officers come from the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police, Kurdish Army and Iraqi Oil Police, who work together on Forward Operating Base Warrior in Kirkuk, Iraq to share information and coordinate key assets with the U.S. military and one another. (READ MORE)

Emergency Response Brigade arrests suspected key leader of terrorist network in Tikrit - BAGHDAD – The Emergency Response Brigade, along with Coalition forces advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist during an intelligence-driven operation in Tikrit, Iraq, a town northwest of the Iraqi capital July 2. During the Iraqi-led operation, the elite police force was operating under the authority of a warrant issued by the Criminal Investigative Court of Karkh. (READ MORE)

Iraqi SWAT arrests suspected murderer - TIKRIT, Iraq – Bayji Special Weapons and Tactics, with Coalition forces advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist July 3 during an operation in the Salah ad-Din province, pursuant to a warrant issued by the Bayji Investigative Court. The arrested individual is suspected of murder and being a member of a terrorist cell which conducts roadside bomb attacks against the Iraqi people and Iraqi Security Forces in Salah ad-Din. (READ MORE)

Wanted insurgent detained in Hawijah - FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq – Soldiers from the 12th Iraqi Army Division detained a wanted insurgent in Kirkuk Province for allegedly being involved in attacks resulting in the deaths of 37 people early Saturday morning in Hawijah. Mahdi Saleh Khalil was detained by soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 46th Brigade, 12th Iraqi Army Division. He is believed to be associated with the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonations on June 30 and April 15, both in Kirkuk city, which killed 37 and wounded 114 Iraqi citizens. (READ MORE)

Destroyed Iraqi Police Station Reopens - BAGHDAD — In 2006, an insurgent’s bomb destroyed the police station in Tarmiyah, leaving a burning pile of rubble. Today, the station has risen from the ashes and is a new source of pride and an improvement in security for the town. U.S. Soldiers with the 8th Military Police Brigade (MPB) are helping the Tarmiyah police prepare for the grand re-opening of the new, modern building. (READ MORE)

Marines Teach Iraqis Lifesaving Skills - MUDAYSIS AIRFIELD — In a combat environment, efficient medical personnel and supplies are needed in order to ensure an individual's safe return in case of an emergency. Without these two important details, a person's treatable wounds may become more serious, decreasing their chance of survival. A Navy corpsman along with Marines from Bravo Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, trained Iraqi Soldiers here in various areas of combat lifesaving, June 22-24. (READ MORE)

U.S. Advisors Adapt to Lower Profile - BAGHDAD – As Coalition combat forces have lowered their public profile by pulling back from Iraqi cities, towns and villages, so, too, have the trainers and advisors to the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). The Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq’s (MNSTC-I) mission is to train, mentor and advise the ISF, at the request of the Iraqi government. This role is a key element of the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement. (READ MORE)

Soldiers Raise, Fly American Flags to be Sent to United States - BAGHDAD — July fourth, the day of American independence, was celebrated in the International Zone with special flag raising ceremonies by Soldiers with Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I). The flags, after being raised and flown here, will be sent to servicemembers, family and friends in the United States. U.S. Army Col. Keith Kodalen, MNSTC-I, J4 commander, led his section in the first of many flag raisings on this patriotic day. (READ MORE)

Coalition Transfers Maysan Base to IA - FOB HUNTER — U.S. Soldiers recently transferred a military base to Iraqi Security Forces near Majaar Al Kabir in a ceremony attended by key U.S. and Iraqi leaders in the Maysan province. "This is a historic event for the citizens of the Maysan province and for all Soldiers operating in Iraq," said Lt. Col. William Walski, commander, 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment. "We are proud of the relationships we have built with the Iraqi Security Forces and are confident of their ability to protect the citizens of Maysan province." (READ MORE)

Iraqi NCOs Attend Advanced Course - CAMP SPARROW HAWK — The Non-commissioned Officer Corps is the backbone essential to the Army's success, and the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division has recently instituted a Master Trainer Course (MTC) to help develop junior Iraqi NCOs. For five days, Soldiers from Company A, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment conducted the first Cordon and Search Master Trainer course here, June 14 - 18. (READ MORE)


Afghanistan:
U.S. Forces Boost Security, Commerce in Afghanistan - WASHINGTON, July 7, 2009 – U.S. forces are helping to equip Afghan forces with the tools they need to improve security and commerce in Afghanistan. In recent days, U.S. forces trained Afghan border police on the use of up-armored Humvees, advised farmers to boost crop production and, to improve quality of life for their own, put the finishing touches on a combat outpost. (READ MORE)

Soldiers Assess Afghan Polling Sites to Ensure Security - NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, July 7, 2009 – Soldiers from the 554th Military Police Company out of Stuttgart, Germany, are assessing polling sites here for next month’s Afghan elections. Army Sgt. 1st Class John Moyle, a platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, 554th Military Police Company who hails from Sunbury, Pa., said the purpose of the missions is to assess local security posture. (READ MORE)

Tennessee Guard Agribusiness Team Sets Up Shop in Afghanistan - JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 6, 2009 – The Tennessee National Guard’s agribusiness development team is up and running as the first of its kind in Afghanistan’s Paktia and Paktika provinces. Team officials said their primary mission is to set the stage for the success of the teams that come after them. The Tennessee team includes security force members, a headquarters element and about 15 technical experts with vast knowledge and experience in agriculture and livestock. (READ MORE)

Russia Allows Transit for Afghanistan-bound U.S. Troops - WASHINGTON, July 6, 2009 – An agreement signed in Moscow today permits the United States to transit troops and weapons across Russian territory en route to Afghanistan. The pact, signed during President Barack Obama’s visit to the Kremlin, permits 4,500 flights per year through Russian airspace, and saves the U.S. government $133 million annually in transportation costs while boosting logistical efficiency, according to a White House statement. (READ MORE)

Added U.S. Troops Enable Afghanistan Strategy, Mullen Says - WASHINGTON, July 5, 2009 – Additional American troops in Afghanistan are making it possible to institute the new strategy in the country, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union program, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said Operation Khanjar, which means Strike of the Sword, will challenge the Taliban and al-Qaida in the Helmand River valley in southern Afghanistan. The area has been a terrorist safe haven and which has most of the opium poppy cultivation in the country. (READ MORE)

U.S., Afghan Forces Launch Offensive Into Taliban Stronghold - WASHINGTON, July 2, 2009 – Thousands of American servicemembers and hundreds of Afghan soldiers launched Operation Khanjar today to provide security to the Helmand River Valley in southern Afghanistan. The operation's name translates in English to "Strike of the Sword." Some 4,000 Marines, sailors and soldiers and 650 Afghan soldiers launched nearly simultaneous air and ground assaults all along the river. One Marine was killed and several others were wounded in early fighting, officials said. (READ MORE)

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

Sour Swinger: Photos From Camp Liberty - I’m finally catching up to where I am now. Here is the first set of pictures from Camp Liberty. All pictures are from within the base. Those taken out on sector will be coming soon. I picked 5 to show below. Click here to see the entire set. There’s about 45 pics total. (READ MORE)

Afghanistan My Last Tour: Women in Combat - In 1429, at the age of 17, Joan of Arc led the French troops into battle against the English. During the Civil and Revolutionary Wars, women disguised themselves as men so they could fight against the enemy. The history books are filled with many other examples of women fighting in combat. In present day 2009, women are still fighting in combat or in combat zones. In 1948, President Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act which granted official military status to women serving in the armed forces. Today this was evident as I looked at the composition of the gender participating in our convoy crew. Our assigned mission was to travel to an Afghan logistics depot and inventory weapons. Our convoy commander was a recently promoted female Air Force MSgt. This Hartford, CT resident currently stationed at Langley AFB, VA is not only a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, but also a wife and mom to 3 kids. She’s been in the Air Force for 12 years and was promoted to the rank of MSgt (e-7) on 1 July. (READ MORE)

Bad Dogs and Such: When posting is light... - When I decided to keep blogging during this deployment, I had to make a decision that ran counter to my every inclination. I was, I decided, going to have to be nice. Now, you may have noticed I'm not always very nice, but trust me - I'm genetically inclined to be a total ranting bitch on wheels. I am of the school that tells children: If you can't say something nice, come sit by me. But I didn't know what sort of...tactical situation this trip would present, and so I planned for the worst-case scenario. That one would, of course, involve people dying. And, given my ability to jam my feet in my mouth, I figured that if I went off on a good long rant about how much of an absolute shithead moron Captain So-And-So was, he would be immediately killed the next day. (READ MORE)

The Canada-Afghanistan Blog: Summer Days - It has been a very violent few days in Afghanistan. From a BBC story: “The US military says six of its troops have been killed in two separate bomb blasts in Afghanistan, amid a spate of insurgent activity across the country. It says four of the soldiers were killed in the northern town of Kunduz. Two others died in the south, but the US military gave no further details.” Meanwhile, the Taliban confirms they are holding an American soldier prisoner. The circumstances are exceedingly strange: “Two U.S. defense sources said the soldier "just walked off" post with three Afghans after he finished working. They said they had no explanation for why he left the base.” (READ MORE)

Doc H: Arrival in Afghanistan - Yesterday we made it in country, I had a little bit of a view for a short time on the flight. I could see coastline below. In a bit of clique coincidence while we were walking off the flight line, 2 ambulances arrived to deposit their passengers onto a waiting aircraft, probably headed back to Germany. It served as a solemn reminder of what can happen in this country. I also heard my first two explosions within my first 6 hours in country. Sure they were announce overhead as 'controlled detonations' which I assumes meant mines, but it is still a little disconcerting to have explosions wake you up from a nap. These middle of the night flights are going to mess up my sleep for quite a while. Here we are surrounded by jagged tall mountains. To the north and south you can see snow on the peaks. It has a daytime haze much like Denver. It is quite warm in the afternoons and comfortable at night. (READ MORE)

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan: Lance Corporal Dane Elson killed in Afghanistan - It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Corporal Dane Elson from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards was killed in Afghanistan on 5 July 2009. Lance Corporal Elson was killed while on patrol in Babaji as part of Operation PANCHAI PALANG in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was part of a Fire Support Group from 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, attached to the Light Dragoons Battle Group. On 5 July Lance Corporal Elson was a team commander in his Fire Support Group. Attached to B Company, 2 MERCIAN, their mission was to clear the enemy from positions South of Malgir. Having provided Fire Support for an attack onto an enemy held compound, the Fire Support Group began to move off. As they did so an Improvised Explosive Device exploded, killing Lance Corporal Elson instantly. (READ MORE)

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan: Joint US, Afghan and British operation disrupts Taliban - As elections in Afghanistan approach, thousands of British, American and Afghan soldiers are conducting a joint operation to clear the Taliban from an area north of Lashkar Gah and extend security to the area. As well as American soldiers from the US-led Task Force Leatherneck, who have recently arrived in Helmand province, there are 3,000 soldiers from Task Force Helmand involved in Operation PANCHAI PALANG, or Panther's Claw. In the latest phase of the operation, hundreds of soldiers from the Welsh Guards Battle Group, Light Dragoons Battle Group and 3 SCOTS (The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland) Battle Group have seized key canal crossing points and other areas. Sadly, three British soldiers have lost their lives in the operation this weekend and, in an earlier phase last week, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, and Trooper Joshua Hammond of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment were also killed. (READ MORE)

Far From Perfect: Another 4th in Iraq - Back when I was here in 2007, I didn’t even care to blog about the 4th. We were so busy doing ground patrols, raids, and watching officers eat with Iraqis while we baked in the sun that I didn’t get the chance to enjoy it, let alone write about it. In fact, I was probably asleep if I wasn’t on patrol. It was hot, dirty, and nothing worth celebrating. Its still hot and dirty. We are suffering some of the worst dust storms in decades right now. I am coughing up dirt and choking on dust, but at least I wasn’t waiting to get blown up by an IED this time. In fact, the day was pretty uneventful. I was on first-up medevac duty, but my curse/blessing allowed us to sit quietly for the whole duty schedule. So what actually happened this year? Well besides the dust, we had a BBQ at our hangar for everyone here, including another medevac unit. We had a big grill out complete with ribeyes, “pulled pork” and the ubiquitous “Bubba Burger.” (READ MORE)

Housefly: Return to Civilization - Back in the US for a few weeks already, rocking the free world and not missing a single thing about Afghanistan. I will not be going back there anytime soon, so the entertaining accounts of American subcultures resume next month. Sorry, no more first-hand accounts of that charming Afghan culture, but I took advantage of having a high-speed internet connection again, and uploaded three short videos that I put together over the last year there. My video camera skills are primitive, but I was able to edit them and attach some pretty good photos at the end of each video. 1) Witness a game of Buzkashi, Afghanistan’s national sport. It is best described as rugby on horseback, using a headless goat or calf instead of a ball. Full-contact, no rules, great horses and horsemen, and plenty of injuries to both. (READ MORE)

Knottie's Niche: The Gold Star in the Window... - "@RTRViews: Have I told you lately what an incredible person you are? I'm praying for the 7 families. You are my inspiration." I received this message on twitter from a very kind man who I admire and respect a great deal. I have heard similar things from others and every time I do I want to say: No I'm not special. I'm not incredible, I'm just a mom taking care of my son by taking care of his brothers. It's my son and the men who served with him and others like him who should inspire you. The men who volunteer to go fight a soulless enemy and sacrifice time with loved ones, risk injury and life to better the world and free people to live without fear that should inspire all of us. It's men who come home with life changing injuries and keep trying and accomplishing so much that should inspire every single person in world. My message has not changed. I have always supported our military. I have always done things beyond a bumper sticker to show that support. (READ MORE)

Sgt Danger: Pit Stop - It was a long 23-hour flight from New Jersey to Central Asia. We stopped in Iceland and Germany to refuel, stretch our legs, shave, and smoke. Our last stop was a small country, one of the "-stans" that surround Afghanistan. We’ll be here for a few days. Our temporary home is an Air Force Base that’s served as a staging ground for troops in and out of Afghanistan since 2001. It’s not a bad place. There’s wi-fi (it’s slow), beer (2 per night), a movie theatre (big screen), and a terrific all-you-can-eat chow hall. Our company lives in a huge 300-man tent on bunk beds. It’s pretty comfortable; sleeping is how most of us have been spending our free time as we try to get adjusted to the 12-hour time zone shift. I don’t really know how long we’ll be here; the Army gets more and more secretive about that stuff as we get closer to entering theatre. We’ll get a few hours notice so we can turn our linen in, get packed, and head toward the flight line. That will be the tactical leg of the trip: (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: Pakistan releases Sufi Mohammed - The Pakistani government has released the senior-most leader of the pro-Taliban group that was behind the Malakand Accord, the agreement that put the Taliban in control over a wide region of Pakistan’s northwest. Sufi Mohammed, the leader of the banned pro-Taliban Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammed [TNSM or the Movement for the Enforcement of Mohammed's Law], and his wife and other family members were released after nearly two months of detention by an unnamed Pakistani security agency. Sufi was reportedly "taken them into protective custody" in Mirpur in Pakistan-held Kashmir more than two months ago, Dawn reported. He was reported missing at the onset of the fighting in Swat, Dir, and Buner, but the security forces have refused to comment if he was in detention. (READ MORE)

SPC Alperin - My Point of View: The beat goes on... - It's good to post again! Not too much has changed and in saying that, I must mention the effects of 'Groundhog Day' the movie, on this deployment. 'Groundhog Day' is an expression that many Soldiers repeat quite often when describing how their day is going because the days blend into each other and feel the same from one to the next. Interestingly, I've learned that many Soldiers who either use the term or hear it used have no idea where it comes from. I explained its origin to one young Soldier and acknowledged to myself, how can everybody be expected to know this expression. The movie came out in 1993. Right now the pullout of troops from the cities in Iraq seems to be working well. The June 30 deadline went smoothly and troops are adjusting. There have been a low amount of incidents in the days since and everyone is hopeful for the best. (READ MORE)

Notes From Iraq: 06JUL09--Tuberculosis - Turns out that units often times see 1 to 5 percent of its Soldiers redeploy with an undesirable souvenir: mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite that fact that nearly one-third of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis (TB), the U.S. is one of the few countries that does not vaccinate against the disease. Granted, only about 5 percent of Americans are infected with TB, but it is a constant threat to American tourists, Soldiers, and the families of Soldiers returning from third-world countries. A few days ago, the extent of my knowledge on tuberculosis was limited to seeing Doc Holiday in the movie Tombstone. It is hard to forget Val Kilmer's portrayal of the "lunger," wiping his mouth and coughing up blood. However, in conducting a post deployment health assessment, I was informed of the likelihood of my team being exposed to TB and that we would all be tested. After all, we spent hours a day every day with Iraqis. (READ MORE)

Ramblings from a painter: Burger Night - On Thursdays, our little gang goes out for burgers. There's a DFAC here in the IZ (I won't say which one - it's a secret!) that makes the best burgers this side of New York. Truly. Now, all the DFACs here make mass-produced burgers as part of their regular fare. Some do a pretty good job. But there's one that goes the extra step. If you ask, they'll go to the cooler and pull out the good stuff: 100% beef, perfectly seasoned, shaped by hand, and they'll grill it to your specifications. Want some American cheese on that? Sure. A double burger? No problem. The cook is a friendly guy with an unpronounceable name who knows how to cook 'em right. Getting fresh burgers cooked to order takes an extra bit of time, so we stand there by the window, sniffing the grill like kids sniff glue. Finally they're done and we scurry off to the table. Can't let 'em get cold - you have to eat 'em while they're still hot. Ohmigawd, it's epicurean bliss! (READ MORE)

Stryker Brigade News: Mother, Son Serve Together in Iraq - TAJI, Iraq – One Pennsylvania National Guard Soldier has two ways he can address Capt. Dorothy Watkins. He can call her ma'am or he can call her mom. Spc. Joshua Watkins and his mother, Capt. Watkins, are both deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, a base camp north of Baghdad, with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division. The mother and son from Hazleton, Pa., are able to enjoy lunch together most days, and celebrate family holidays such as Mother's Day. Capt. Watkins was already in Iraq, deployed with another unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard when her son received orders to deploy to Iraq with the Philadelphia-based 56th SBCT. Capt. Watkins, an officer in the adjutant general corps, scrambled to find a slot so she could deploy with her son. She was home from Iraq only nine days before she mobilized with the 56th SBCT. (READ MORE)

The Writings of a Man's Man: 4th of July, in Baghdad - Its the 4th of July, and I am spending it in a tiny little outpost on the outskirts of Baghdad. Not exactly the prime way to spend the 4th. No family, friends, no beer, not being by a body of water (other than the little canal of sewage water flowing near our outpost) and not getting to watch any fireworks sort of puts a damper on things. However we made the best of things. I spent the day watching borrowed episodes of Survivorman on my laptop, telling myself that if I was in Les Stroud’s shoes I would do more than just survive I would thrive…lets be serious, the guy is on a beautiful beach in Costa Rica, goes spearfishing gets a fish easily, stops at just one and then complains about how hungry he is. I would have about 6 fish roasting over the fire, drinking coconut milk and gazing up at the stars to my heart’s content. I hit the gym and worked on getting a nice muscular physique for my return to civilization in 5 months. (READ MORE)


News from the Front:
Iraq:
Coming tomorrow…

Afghanistan:
Coming tomorrow…

I'm just back from 10 days in Florida.

During that time I was able to attend quite a few shows at Sea World and Disney.

Let me take a moment now and send out a big Thank You to Sea World and Anheuser-Busch for taking time out at the beginnning of the Shamu Show to thank all of the veteran's in the auditorium - those serving past and present - for their service to our Country. When the short tribute was over, my wife leaned over and whispered that it was making her cry.

Good Job Anheuser-Busch!

Disney: The ball is in your court...

By: Paul Miller
Washington Examiner - OpEd Contributor

There is something in the air this Fourth of July weekend, but it isn't barbeque, fireworks or freedom - its secrecy.

As we celebrate the birth of our country and pay our respects to the Founding Fathers and Revolutionary War heroes who made sacrifices very few Americans can comprehend, we must never forget why, over two hundred and forty years ago, it was the words "no taxation without representation" that echoed from chambers and churches in Boston.

Back then the colonists were demanding what today "we the people," take for granted - a voice. Men such as Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Adams risked their lives so that Americans - could have that voice.

And having means much more than the right to free speech; it means the right to be involved in the political process and review legislation, as well as voice an opinion before a vote is called.

Stop ramming it through before the people can review.

Americans must channel the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and demand "no taxation without information." The same politicians who claimed the Bush administration was not upfront and honest with the American people regarding the War on Terror have passed a near trillion-dollar spending bill. They managed to do this with complete disregard for transparency as well as outlining the most controversial energy legislation in American history without any allowance for public input or adequate time for elected representatives to read the twelve-hundred- page bill.

Earlier this year hundreds of thousands of Americans embraced the spirit of Samuel Adams by attending one of the over eight hundred tea party rallies held throughout America, voicing their outrage at Washington's unprecedented intervention and blatant disdain for openness and accountability.

There is no doubt that the same desire for freedom and representation our forefathers fought for during the American Revolution still burns in the hearts and minds of millions. These patriots don't consider themselves Democrats or Republicans, but Americans, who believe that open and honest government that welcomes people into the political process, not shuns them out, is what makes America "that shining city upon a hill."

Unfortunately, the current administration is determined to turn out the "beacon light [that] guides freedom-loving people everywhere." On this Fourth of July weekend, let's remember why it's crucial to leave the light on - at any cost.

Paul Miller serves as communications director for the Sam Adams Alliance, a Chicago-based nonprofit that utilizes new media to promote government accountability and transparency.