From First Multi-National Force Iraq and Defend America:

Rashid citizens march in support of security volunteers.

Explosives removed from streets of Jamia.

Defenders conduct first-ever cooperative medical engagement.

Fallujah Citizens Honored for Volunteer Work.

Marines Help Djiboutian Villagers.

Airfield Recycling Project Creates Jobs for Afghans.

828 Iraqi Police recruits graduate training.

Putting Iraqis out front: U.S. Soldiers aid Iraqi Police with missions.

Diyala Governor: Attack “will not weaken good people."

Operation Blore Heath III

Basrah Regional Courthouse Project Reaches Halfway Mark.

Troops Learn to Factor Helicopters into Battle Rhythm.

Operational Security is everyones responsibility!

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Fro the Yomiuri Shimbun: Fukuda urges DPJ to discuss MSDF mission.

     Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda called on the Democratic Party of Japan to enter discussions on the extension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, likely by compiling another law to extend the operation.

     "To make a new law is one way. I think the overall direction is rather going that way," Fukuda said during a press conference held after the formation of his new Cabinet. "If so, we may explain it before [the submission of a bill for the new law] to the opposition parties to win their understanding, or we can discuss it in the Diet."

     The LDP's comittment to continuing Japan's support and Participation in the Global War on Terror is comendable, but the stubborness of the DPJ remains a stumbling block.  I hope that the instalationof Fukuda as PM can break negotiations loose between the two parties.  But if the DPJ refuses to play a part in reaching a compromise solution it is likely then that Fukuda will simply use his control of the lower house of the Diet to ra through a bill over the objections of the upper house.  He has the politiacl capital to due so that Abe had lost when this issue first reared its head last month.

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Both Storeis from the Korea Times:

NK Denounces US for Defending Israel Against Syria.

     North Korea on Monday denounced Washington and U.S. media for siding with Israel after its air strike on Syria, but kept silent on suspicions raised by the New York Times and other American media about possible trade of nuclear materials between the North and Syria, Yonhap News reported.

     "Israeli warplanes' intrusion into the territorial airspace of Syria and subsequent bomb-dropping are an outright and violent violation of Syria's sovereignty. The Israeli acts are also a grave crime that destroys regional peace and security," Yonhap quoted the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's Workers' Party, as saying in an article.

Rice Calls on NK to Make Nuke Issue Transparent.

     U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Sunday called on North Korea to make transparent fully its nuclear weapons program amid reports it was secretly assisting Syria to develop an atomic weapons facilities, the AFP reported in New York.

     Heh, I wonder if the Israeli's blew up a few of Kim's technical advisors to whatever the Syrians and by extension the Iranians were up to.  No real in depth analisys tonight, I am too tired.  One more post and then I am off to bed.

Feeling Tired, and Sleepy.

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     South Korea is in an unenviable situation at the moment, just when it seemed that relations with the North were improving every so slightly, word comes that the Nork's are bussy shipping their suppousedly dismantled nuke program to Syria.  What could be worse than this on the eve of the second Korean summit beteween the leaders of the North and South?  The South Korean Forgein minister making a fool of himself.

From the Korea Times:

     South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon on Monday dismissed recent reports of alleged nuclear
cooperation between North Korea and Syria, saying no one has any concrete evidence to prove the allegation.

     Song also pointed to conflicting reports on the level of cooperation between the countries.

     "If Syria received nuclear materials from North Korea, it must have a facility to store the nuclear material, but as far as I know, Syria does not have any nuclear (storage) facility," Song told reporters.

Foreign Minister Song Dismisses Reports on Alleged NK-Syria.

     I feel the need to remind the South Korean government of Mark Twain's sage advice. "Better not to speak and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."

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     The Israeli raid of September 6^th wasn't a smash and dash but a grab and go raid, as I noted here.  It is nice to be ahead of the curve occansionaly, and the independent confirmation is just, well not reassuring, but useful.

From the Sunday Times via Fox News

     Israeli commandos seized nuclear material of North Korean origin during a daring raid on a secret military site in Syria before Israel bombed it this month, according to Sunday Times report citing informed sources in Washington and Jerusalem.

     The attack was launched with American approval on September 6 after Washington was shown evidence the material was nuclear related, the well-placed sources say.

Report: Israeli Forces Seized Nuclear Material During Syrian Raid.

    The US had no veto over this raid, we were informed as a courtesy from one ally to another.  Still though, just what was it that they seized?  We aren't likely to find out any time soon, so let the speculation begin.

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From The Usual Suspects

National Guard Leader Visits Horn of Africa.

New Multi-Ethnic Afghan Police Force Grows.

‘Grassroots’ will be catalyst for change in Baghdad, commander says.

Iraq violence lowest since ’06 mosque attack – U.S.

U.S. to start accepting 1,000 Iraqi refugees a month.

Coalition airpower supports ground troops.

Iraqi Doctors Get New Medical Books.  A U.S. Army surgeon has established a revolving medical library of sorts, comprised of donations of the latest books and journals to help Iraqi doctors.

Proposed Agricultural Union will aid security, stability.

82nd Sustainment Brigade “grows the future” with Combat Logistics Patrol Academy.

Democrats fail to pass antiwar bills despite unpopular conflict in Iraq.

Osprey tilt-rotor squadron heads to Iraq

Iraq asks Russia to cancel 80 percent of debt.

Violence down in northern Iraqi province.

Iraqis graduate Casualty Treatment Course.

"Keep 'em Clean, Keep 'em Deadly!"

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4 Israeli Air Force F-15I medium bombers, a variant of the F-15E, planes like these participated in the raid of September 6.

     The Isareli Air Force raid into Syria on the sixth has become a much more intriguing story over the last 48 hours. While originally billed as a strike at weapons bound for Hezbolah, it is clear now that the raid was aimed at a high prioity, time sensitive target that had to be destroyed and destroyed right away.  The strike was deep into eastern Syria, only 50 miles from the Iraqi border along the Euphrates river, proving to the world, and in particular Iran that the IAF is more than capable of deeply penetrating a modern intergrated air defense network.  What the actual target was is not yet entirely clear to us but the Israelis thought valuable enough to send in a commando team to recon the target and paint it with a laser designator for LGB's, rather than using JDAMs in a standoff strike.  LGBs are used when only true pinpoint accuracy will do.  While infiltarting Syrian airspace with 8 or 9 jets is impressive the helo carrying the commandos would have been hard pressed to cross from northern Israel that deeply into Syria without being detected and would have been in need of fuel even with auxiallary tanks to make the return trip.  Someone helped set this up for the Israelis, giving them a forward base to launch the ground ellement of the attack.  The most likely nation to provide that help is Turkey, given the short distances involved and the close military relationship between the two middle eastern democracies.  The other possibility is that the US allowed Israel to use a base in western Iraq as a staging point, but the needs of US policy in the region make this rather unlikely, however the Israelis would most likely have been given the OK to use one of the US held airbases in western Iraq as a divert field for any aircraft damaged in the raid. 

     So what was all this effort after, what was worthy of taking the risks and calling favors to pull this off?  While most people point to nuclear manufacturing facillities the time sensative nature of the strike makes me believe that the cash strapped North Koreans may be selling more than nuclear know how, but rather nuclear warheads.  This chilling thought is reinforced by the need for absolute precision, a uranium enrichment facillity or similar manufacturing facillities tend to be rather large and conspicous targets easily destroyed by high accuracy weapons like JDAM.  The reports we have gotten so far seem to suggest that the target was small and highly protected.  But what if all of this is just smoke and mirrors to cover up the real operation.  If the Israelis believed that the North Koreans had moved a viable nuclear weapon to Syria for use against them or transhipment to Iran attacking from the air would not be enough, there would always be the chance that weapon was merely damaged rather than destroyed.  It is my personal belief that the comandos actually went in and seized something and the IAF followed up to destroy evidence of that seizure and to provide a credible and for the Syrians and North Koreans unassailable cover story unless the come completely clean with what was going on there, which is more than highly unlikely.

An Israeli AF F-16C, F-16s likely provided cover for the F-15Is and provided SEAD* support for the raid.

*SEAD=Supression of Enemy Air Defenses

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New York City Firefighters raisng the American flag at ground Zero 9-11-01

Six years, six long hard years have passed since that terrible morning that will forever be etched into my memory, I know exactly where I was when I first heard the news, as I am sure many of you do as well.  This is the only post for today.  Today is reminder of why we fight, to protect against something like this from ever happening again.  Here is why we fight, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 VICTIMS all 2996 reasons.  You are in our hearts and minds, always inspiring us to go froward and do what must be done so you will not have died in vain.

Flight 93 Memorial Stone, Shanksville Pennsylvania

Firefighters and Military Personel unfurling the American flag at the pentagon, 9-12-01

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From First Multi-National Force Iraq, Defend America and Marine Link.

Airmen, Marines Deliver 'Buffaloes'  Ground troops get new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.

Marines, Iraqis Sweep Area for Insurgents.

U.S. Soldiers, Iraqis Re-open Elementary School, Renovated school includes Internet room with 12 computers.

Soldiers Help Iraqis Rebuild Pump Station.

A sobering look at Iraq war’s heroes.

Iraq’s new justice unfolds in a fortress.

Sunni Arab secular bloc returns to Iraqi Parliament.

General honors pioneers of 555th.

In 24-hr battle, Hawr Rajab turns on al-Qaeda.

Soldiers capture car bomb cell leader.

Iraqi and U.S. Security Forces engage terrorists in Samarra.

Coalition airpower supports Coalition ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Iraq seeks oil output of 6 million bpd within decade.

Guard your secrets with your life, and in so doing protect the life of another!

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