Iraq War News Updates -- August 1, 2009

A deadly bombing on Friday in Baghdad underscored the continuing threat of violence in Iraq. Karim Kadim/Associated Press

Iraqis Fear Latest Bombings Signal Return Of Al Qaida In Iraq -- McClatchy News

BAGHDAD — Bombings at five Shiite Muslim mosques killed 29 worshippers Friday in a series of attacks that Iraqi army and police officers are interpreting as a sign that insurgents are determined to destabilize the country now that American forces have withdrawn from Iraqi cities and towns.

"You will see them attempting to start the sectarian violence again," said a high-ranking Iraqi army officer who commands a unit in western Baghdad. He asked not to be named because he isn't authorized to speak to the media.

Read more ....

More News On Iraq

July Worst US Month in Afghanistan, Best in Iraq -- Voice of America
Troops May Be in Iraq, but Military’s Focus Is Afghanistan -- New York Times
Sunni mosque bombed south of Baghdad; 2 wounded -- AP
5 Shiite mosques targeted in Baghdad bombings -- Seattle Times
Bombs Target Shi'ite Mosques in Baghdad -- Voice of America
Iraq kills Iranian dissidents, earning brownie points in Tehran -- The Telegraph
Slow Sunni integration a risk to Iraq security -US -- Reuters
Turnover Pays Unforeseen Benefits, General Says -- U.S. Department of Defense
Analysis: Memo raises questions about Iraq pullout -- AP
This Week at War: Life After Insurgency -- Foreign Policy Blog
Maliki Keeps Foes, Friends Guessing -- Washington Post
Journalists criticize Iraq bill protecting media -- Reuters
As Iraq war ends, why isn't the US in on more business deals? -- Christian Science Monitor
Kuwait alarmed by Iraqi failure to pay reparations -- AP
PM says Iraq cannot afford to pay General Electric -- Reuters
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,329 -- AP

'The World Went Silent . . . Being Blown Up Was Too Quick To Be Frightening'

US marines from Fox Company 2-8 take suspects for questioning in Helmand province. (Jack Hill)

From Times Online:

Spurts of dust kicked up in the field to the left of the US Marines and the clatter of gunfire grew louder. The Marines began to run, their bodies taking on the hunched and wary posture of troops under fire. Shouting into radios, officers were struggling to catch up with the ambush that was beginning to envelop them.

More regular, disciplined shots sounded close by. A pall of ugly brown smoke hung in the clear dawn air several hundred metres away, marking the spot where a bomb explosion had initiated the Taleban ambush. It was 6.45am.

I was in the middle of the first squad of Marines. We pounded headlong towards a mud compound ahead. As we got to about 10ft of the corner of the building, the world went suddenly and inexplicably silent and everything turned white.

Read more ....

My Comment: This embedded reported was lucky .... very lucky.

Why Israel Is Nervous

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, walks with U.S. ambassador to Israel James Cunningham, center, and Israeli Defense Ministry Director-General Pinchas Buchris. AFP/Getty Images

From The Wall Street Journal:

Tension is escalating between the U.S and Israel. The problem: The administration views the Israeli-Palestinian issue as the root of all problems, while Israel is focused on Iran’s nuclear threat, says Elliott Abrams.

The tension in U.S.-Israel relations was manifest this past week as an extraordinary troupe of Obama administration officials visited Jerusalem. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, National Security Advisor James Jones, special Middle East envoy George Mitchell and new White House adviser Dennis Ross all showed up in Israel’s capital in an effort to…well, to do something. It was not quite clear what.

Read more ....

My Comment: Israel knows that if President Obama's outreach to countries like Syria and Iran fails .... the first country that will be on the front line from such a fallout will be Israel. This is the fundamental difference between Israel and the present U.S. Administration .... Israel believes that its right to exist is threatened everyday while the U.S. perceives these threats to be not as great as how Israel likes to portray them as.

Israel and the U.S. are now going down two different paths .... where it will end is anyone's guess.

Army's Newest Howitzer: The M777 Howitzer

M777 Howitzer (Photo from Army Recognition)

Europe-Based Soldiers Get Chance To Test-Fire, Train With Army's Newest Howitzer -- U.S. Army

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Improvements in technology and weaponry are dire necessities in modern warfare. They achieve success on the battlefield and enable Soldiers to complete successful missions in support of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.

On July 24, Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment FIRES Squadron became the first unit in Europe to fire the Army's new M777 Howitzers at the Joint Multinational Training Command's Grafenwoehr Training Area.

"Being the first unit in Europe to fire this new weapon is an amazing honor," said Sgt. 1st Class Steven Jarvis, a section chief with the 2SCR. "This is the high point in my career. This is a big deal for an artillery Soldier and something to remember for a long time."

Read more ....

My Comment: In a world with precision missiles .... you would think that artillery would become passe .... obviously not.

X-47B UCAS Validated for Aircraft Carrier Operations

X-47B (Photo from Flight Global)

From Defense Professionals:

21:16 GMT, July 30, 2009 SAN DIEGO | Northrop Grumman Corporation recently completed a series of static and dynamic proof load tests to validate the design and structural integrity of the U.S. Navy's first X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) for aircraft carrier launches, recoveries and at-sea operations under the UCAS Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.

"Arrested landings, catapult launches, high winds, pitching deck, subsonic speeds, you name it - the operating environment of the carrier air wing is unforgiving," said Scott Winship, vice president and program manager of the Navy UCAS program for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems sector. "The X-47B was built for these conditions, and as the results of the rigorous proof test show, the design of the aircraft is structurally sound for all aspects of carrier operations."

Read more ....

My Comment: For the U.S. Navy ..... this is the aviation fleet for tomorrow.

Uncertainty About Military Suicides Frustrates Services

From ISRIA:

The most frustrating part about suicide prevention is the uncertainty about what causes troops to take their lives, top military leaders said here yesterday.

This near-unanimous chorus was sounded on Capitol Hill when the second-ranking military officers of each service testified about military mental health before the House Armed Services Committee.

“The most frustrating thing is trying to find a cause,” said Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the Army’s vice chief of staff.

The Army last week launched a study group comprising the military, National Institute of Mental Health, academia and other members in hopes of better understanding the underlying causes of suicide.

Read more ....

My Comment: Frustrating maybe .... but not surprising.

FACTBOX-Challenges, Solutions For Western Intelligence

The National Security Agency logo appears on a computer screen inside the Threat Operations Center at the NSA in Fort Meade, Md. Brooks Kraft / Corbis for TIME

From Reuters:

Improving intelligence collection, coordination and analysis has been a major focus for Western governments since the Sept 11, 2001 attacks and the 2003 Iraq invasion, events involving profound faults in preparedness.

Here are some of the challenges, and solutions, being addressed by intelligence service managers.

Read more ....

My Comment: Reuters puts together an intelligence summary that is short and to the point.

Sighhh ..... if anti-terrorism strategy and implementation was that easy.