Teflon Don reports that one of his favorite bloggers from on the ground in Iraq has been ordered to stop posting to his blog. The blogger explains here:

Though I committed no OPSEC violations, due to a series of extenuating circumstances – the least of which was me being on leave – my “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage” post on May 28 did not go through the normal vetting channels. It’s totally on me, as it was too much unfiltered truth. I’m a soldier first, and orders are orders. So it is.

Read the post with too much unfiltered truth here. Teflon Don calls the post a

too-real look at the struggle of a combat lieutenant to stay out of the mind-draining quagmire. No, not the media’s Iraq: that quagmire is contrived and belied by the situation on the ground. This quagmire was the grind of the Tactical Operations Center, of the FOB life. LT G did not want to be a company executive officer. For a combat troop, that would be as good as suicide. The post he wrote about it got his blogging canned.

This is a common reason for government censorship: to keep the government from looking bad.

[posted by Justin Levine]

Another classic dissent. Read the whole thing beginning at pg. 110 of this PDF document of the court’s opinion.

But here is a starting taste, along with the ending paragraph (note how Scalia conspicuously declines to write “I respectfully dissent” as is the usual custom for Justices):

“Today, for the first time in our Nation’s history, the Court confers a constitutional right to habeas corpus on alien enemies detained abroad by our military forces in the course of an ongoing war. THE CHIEF JUSTICE’s dissent, which I join, shows that (more…)

Badger 6 signs off.

[Guest post by DRJ]

Apparently the special parking and permits granted to the Bay Area Code Pink to protest the Marine Corp recruiting center in Berkeley hasn’t done the trick. Now Code Pink is calling on area witches, crones and sirens to bewitch the Marines:

“Friday, May 9th: Witches, Crones, Sirens: perform rituals of leaving, cast a spell of peace and love over the station, rendering nil the recruiting of our youth to become fodder for this occupation of Iraq.”

Catherine Moy at Move America Forward broke the story and adds this detail:

“This should be no surprise. One of Code Pink’s mamas is Miriam Simos, a bisexual feminist witch living in Berkeley who goes by the name “Starhawk.” I’m sure Starhawk and the rest of the witches of Code Pink will work up a real witches’ brew of hate for our Marines.”

I hope Code Pink ends up with three witches. The symbolism would be perfect.

– DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Iraqi sources report that al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri has been captured in Mosul. If this report is correct, al-Masri almost made it to his 2-year anniversary as commander. He took over al Qaeda in Iraq after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed June 7, 2006 in a U.S. airstrike northeast of Baghdad.

As discussed in this post, al-Masri’s top two aides were killed in October 2007, including one who was in charge of foreign suicide bombers.

Apparently al-Masri is in Iraqi custody. Imagine the information al-Masri could share regarding plans for suicide attacks and the identities of possible suicide bombers. If he is turned over to the Americans, what interrogation techniques should be allowed to get information from al-Masri about planned attacks and personnel?

UPDATE: Once again, it looks like reports of al-Masri’s death or capture are untrue or, at least, premature.

– DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

The downside of letting lawyers run the war:

“Three years ago, Abdullah Saleh al-Ajmi, a Kuwaiti soldier who deserted to fight in Afghanistan alongside the Taliban, sat in a detention cell at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, while lawyers argued whether he was an “enemy combatant.”

Last week, a Dubai-based television channel reported that al-Ajmi was killed carrying out a homicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq.”

Counter-terrorism analysts had argued he should not be released from GTMO because:

“— That he deserted from the Kuwaiti army to participate in a jihad in Afghanistan;

— The Taliban supplied him with arms, including grenades;

— He admitted fighting with the Taliban, including engaging in two or three firefights;

— He was captured by coalition forces in the Tora Bora region, an area once thought to be a hideout of Usama bin Laden;

— That upon his arrival at Guantanamo he demonstrated “aggressive” behavior; and,

— Based on a review of classified and unclassified documents, al-Ajmi was declared a threat to the United States and its allies.”

Nevertheless, al-Ajmi was released to Kuwait in 2005. At the time of his apparent death, he was free on bail pending trial on charges he helped raise money for Al Qaeda.

– DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Master SGT Brendan O’Connor, a 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in a ceremony at Fort Bragg Wednesday. He was only the second American to be awarded the DSC for valor in Afghanistan.

MSGT O’Connor’s bravery is recounted in this official release:

“O’Connor was instrumental in keeping his team alive during an intense battle with over 250 Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan on June 22, 2006. While making a temporary stop during a patrol, his team and their attached Afghan National Army soldiers were attacked from all sides with small arms fire, heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, recoilless rifles and mortars.

During the 17 1/2 hours of sustained combat that followed, O’Connor and his team fought of wave after wave of Taliban attackers from a group of small compounds, fighting for their lives against insurgents who were intent on killing or capturing the beleaguered defenders. Much of the combat was so close that the defenders of the compounds could hear cursing and taunting from the enemies who swarmed the perimeter.

After hearing two Soldiers were wounded at another location, O’Connor removed his body armor and low-crawled under heavy machine gun fire to treat and extract his wounded comrades. O’Connor then carried a wounded Soldier back to a safer area, again passing through intense fire. One teammate commented that as he was crawling, machine gun fire “mowed the grass” around him.

His story was also covered by 60 Minutes, including this tribute from a fellow soldier: “He’s an absolute hero. He’s what people want to be.”

Patterico commenter Driver blogged the ceremony and provides an inside view of the military as it honored its finest. In addition, Master SGT O’Connor was the star in this Day-by-Day cartoon, a special internet accolade.

I’d like to add my thanks and congratulations, Master SGT O’Connor.

H/T Badgers Forward.

– DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

In a move that is sure to provoke discussion, the Department of Justice suggests that permissible interrogation techniques could vary depending on the circumstances:

“CIA interrogation techniques otherwise prohibited by international law might be legal in the face of an impending terrorist attack, the Justice Department says in newly disclosed letters to Capitol Hill.

The letters show that the Bush administration is taking the position that it has latitude in dealing with restrictions from the Supreme Court and Congress designed to limit how far interrogators in the U.S. intelligence community can go.

Among the issues is a Geneva Conventions ban on outrages upon personal dignity, a provision the Supreme Court ruled in 2006 applies to prisoners in American captivity.

“The fact that an act is undertaken to prevent a threatened terrorist attack, rather than for the purpose of humiliation and abuse, would be relevant to a reasonable observer in measuring the outrageousness of the act,” said a Justice Department letter dated March 6.”

This New York Times’ article originally broke the story and reported reaction, pro and con:

“Some legal experts critical of the Justice Department interpretation said the department seemed to be arguing that the prospect of thwarting a terror attack could be used to justify interrogation methods that would otherwise be illegal.

“What they are saying is that if my intent is to defend the United States rather than to humiliate you, than I have not committed an offense,” said Scott L. Silliman, who teaches national security law at Duke University.

But a senior Justice Department official strongly challenged this interpretation on Friday, saying that the purpose of the interrogation would be just one among many factors weighed in determining whether a specific procedure could be used.

“I certainly don’t want to suggest that if there’s a good purpose you can head off and humiliate and degrade someone,” said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was describing some legal judgments that remain classified.

“The fact that you are doing something for a legitimate security purpose would be relevant, but there are things that a reasonable observer would deem to be outrageous,” he said.

At the same time, the official said, “there are certainly things that can be insulting that would not raise to the level of an outrage on personal dignity.”

There are no easy answers when you are trying to balance safety and freedom.

– DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Defense Secretary Gates has recommended General David Petraeus to lead US Central Command with General Ray Odierno slotted to replace Petraeus in Iraq:

“U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus will be nominated to be the next commander of the U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday.

Petraeus, who is currently serving as the commander of the Multinational Force in Iraq and has overseen a dramatic reduction in violence, will replace U.S. Navy Adm. William Fallon, who abruptly retired in March after it was reported that he had substantial policy disagreements with U.S. President George W. Bush over Iran.

As commander of the Central Command, Petraeus would have responsibility over U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa, including both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gates said he recommended Petraeus because of his experience within the region as well as his experience dealing with the asymmetric warfare that characterizes the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I am absolutely confident he’s the best man for the job,” Gates said.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno has been nominated to replace Petraeus as the top U.S. commander in Iraq. Odierno previously served as the commander of the Multinational Corps in Baghdad, the U.S. military’s number two position in Iraq.

“He’s known to the Iraqis and has very current experience,” Gates said of Odierno. “He clearly was Gen. Petraeus’s right-hand man during this last year.”

Gates doesn’t foresee any change in the strategy in Iraq.

Hopefully MoveOn.org plans a change in strategy. If not, its organizers are consulting the rhyming dictionary for words that rhyme with Odierno as I write this.

– DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

American news is focused on today’s Pennsylvania Democratic primary but the Democratic candidates aren’t the only ones who want to motivate their base. Al Qaeda does, too:

“Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri criticised Muslims for failing to support Islamist insurgencies in Iraq and elsewhere in a new audiotape posted Tuesday on the Internet.

Osama bin Laden’s top lieutenant also blasted Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas over their reported readiness to consider a peace deal with Israel.

“I call upon the Muslim nation to fear Allah’s question (at judgement day) about its failure to support its brothers of the Mujahedeen (holy Warriors), and (urge it) not to withhold men and money, which is the mainstay of a war,” he said.

He also used the two-and-a-half hour message to urge Muslims to join militant groups, mainly in Iraq, where he claimed that the insurgency against the Iraqi government and the US-led coalition forces is bearing fruit.
***
In his message, Zawahiri also called on the various jihadist groups operating in the country to unite behind the “more advanced” Al-Qaeda-backed “Islamic State of Iraq”.”

Two-plus hours of nagging doesn’t seem like a promising recruiting tactic but I’m not an expert on inducements that work well for aspiring jihadists.

As mentioned above, Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas was used by al-Zawahiri to criticize Hamas:

“Turning his ire on Hamas, [al-Zawahiri] said the Palestinian group’s reported willingness to hold a referendum on any peace deal with Israel flew in the face of Sharia, or Islamic, law.

“How can they put a matter that violates Sharia to a referendum?” he added.”

This isn’t the first time al Qaeda leaders have criticized Hamas for putting its national interests above the interests of jihad:

“An al-Qaeda commander who escaped from a U.S. prison in Afghanistan appeared in a new videotape Sunday criticizing Hamas and other Islamic groups that he said prioritized nationalism and electoral politics over jihad, or holy war.

Hamas is focused on the creation of an independent Palestinian state rather than al-Qaeda’s vision of a worldwide Muslim community ruled by Islamic law. Like al-Qaeda, the Palestinian movement advocates violence to achieve its goal, but has also participated in elections alongside the moderate Palestinian Fatah group.”

It must be especially discouraging for al Qaeda leaders to watch people choose elections over jihad.

– DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Capt. Joseph Kobes, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient who has served in Iraq three times, is a contestant on Howie Mandel’s game show “Deal or No Deal.” He’s competing to get enough money to pay off his parents’ house. The taping included a moment where President Bush expressed gratitude for his service and wished him luck in the game.

President Bush isn’t the most popular politician right now (and he knows it, judging by this quote) but he’s still a pretty funny guy:

“I’m thrilled to be on ‘Deal or No Deal’ with you tonight. Come to think of it, I’m thrilled to be anywhere with high ratings these days.”

It’s a nice clip. Take a look.

– DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Wretchard at The Belmont Club has a round-up of encouraging al-Sadr news. First, from the AP:

“Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mocked anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a coward on Sunday, hours after the radical leader threatened to declare war unless U.S. and Iraqi forces end a military crackdown on his followers. …

“I know he’s sitting in Iran,” Rice said dismissively, when asked about al-Sadr’s latest threat to lift a self-imposed cease-fire with government and U.S. forces. “I guess it’s all-out war for anybody but him,” Rice said. “I guess that’s the message; his followers can go to their deaths and he’s in Iran.”

There’s more at the link from Bill Roggio and the New York Times, as well as thoughts on how these developments may affect the next President.

Also, there’s a notice that the Belmont Club will be moving to a new site so keep a watch for the new address.

– DRJ