Monday, April 30, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCCV:
No. 510-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties


The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died Apr. 27 in Fallujah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations.They were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Killed were:

Spc. Eddie D. Tamez, 21, of Galveston, Texas.

Pfc. David A. Kirkpatrick, 20, of Upland, Ind.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at (912) 767-2479.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCCIV:
No. 503-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Peter Woodall, 25, of Sarasota, Fla.
Woodall died April 27 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the 2nd Marine Logistics Group public affairs office at (910) 451-3538.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCCIII:
No. 505-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

Dod Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cpl. Christopher Degiovine, 25, of Lone Tree, Colo.
Degiovine died April 26 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at (910) 450-7200.
--Spencer Ackerman
Sunday, April 29, 2007
i want it all:
Condoleezza Rice says there must be no timeline for withdrawal. Why?
The Iraqis, many of whom are paying great sacrifice to try to make this national unity government work, want to be able to move forward on the reconciliation.
... and an announced withdrawal will hinder reconciliation, which is the underlying political goal of the surge; if not the entire war at this point. Leave aside for a moment that General Petraeus recognizes Nouri al-Maliki's government is "not a government of national unity." Maliki has demonstrated repeatedly that there's only so far he'll bend in the direction of concessions to the Sunnis, no matter how hard the U.S. pushes, which makes sense in the context of consolidating Shiite gains. If more evidence is necessary that that's where Maliki's interests lie, consider that his proxies have been purging the Army and National Police of commanders who take too aggressive a line against Shiite militias:

At the national level, some U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about the Office of the Commander in Chief, a behind-the-scenes department that works on military issues for the prime minister.

One adviser in the office, Bassima Luay Hasun al-Jaidri, has enough influence to remove and intimidate senior commanders, and her work has "stifled" many officers who are afraid of angering her, a senior U.S. military official said. U.S. commanders are considering installing a U.S. liaison officer in the department to better understand its influence.

"Her office harasses [Iraqi commanders] if they are nationalistic and fair," said the U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity out of concern over publicly criticizing the Iraqi government. "They need to get rid of her and her little group."

And it's safe to consider the appearance of this piece a nudge in that direction. Yet the basic problem with Maliki remains: owing his political life to more-radical and more-sectarian elements in Shiite politics, he'll either break with them and marginalize himself or muddle through by conceding only so much to the U.S. and his sectarian competition. It's no wonder that Iyad Allawi is renewing his push to replace Maliki, resubmitting his resume to the U.S. that there's a less-sectarian quasi-strongman option still on the table, regardless of how that all turned out the first time around. Rice, for one, might not think it such a bad idea at this point, hard as it is to imagine the return of Allawi. All this is to say that reconciliation -- and who knows what reconciliation even means anymore, really -- is more of a necessity for her than for Maliki.

Finally, some wild speculation: the Post story on Maliki's security purges is comes on the heels of this week's big Iraq conference in Sharm el-Sheikh. The regional players, save Iran, are going to demand Maliki restrain Shiite power -- let's not be euphemistic here -- and he's going to insist on their less-than-qualified support for his government. (Already Saudi King Abdullah is rumored to be snubbing Maliki at the conference.) As much as the U.S. wants Maliki to come home with some secured promises for support from his neighbors, it also wants Maliki to flex against the Shiite Crescent. Confirming some stuff that damages the Iraqi PM in the eyes of the Sunni powers ahead of the conference might not be as perverse for the administration as it seems on first blush.
--Spencer Ackerman
it's not funny anymore:
David Frum, if I'm not mistaken, once had a brilliant line about The Economist. He was on his treadmill, as he typically was, reading The Economist, as he typically did, when suddenly it occurred to him: I hate this magazine, he thought. I hate everything about this magazine. Dumbfounded, and slightly afraid at where this new insight would take him, he placed the issue down on a nightstand. Serenity washed over him. I had a similar revelation tonight about Entourage.

The nexus of perpetual adolescence and unapologetic, unearned wealth is enough of a cavalcade of horrors without exalting a world in which women only exist in the penumbra of masculinity. Meld to the wretched substance of the show a stunningly lazy sitcom predictability -- Drama really did get punk'd by the UFC guy and Pauly Shore! The female agent throws professionalism to the wind for a fling with Vince! Why shouldn't Ari's wife reward Ari's appalling behavior with sex? -- and Entourage might, on closer inspection, be a sublime merger of form and function. If only the show provided any textual reason to think its lesson is that we should hate everything about these people.
--Spencer Ackerman
surrender, but don't give yourself away:
So that's what we get from George Tenet: a personalized and generic mea culpa. Scott Pelley asked Tenet if CIA interrogators or surrogates tortured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah or other high-value al-Qaeda detainees, something which is fairly well substantiated at this point. Tenet, unable to moderate the tone of his voice, repeated again and again that "we don't torture people" ... only to make a lengthy exculpation -- you have to remember the pressure I was under; word of the next attack was accumulating me; we had already lost 3,000 Americans; walk a mile in my shoes -- for any torture that may have occurred. If Tenet's book is anything like his 60 Minutes interview, expect it to lead to the water's edge of confession but rarely dip a toe into true disclosure.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCCII:
No. 499-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Adam E. Loggins, 27, of Athens, Ala., died April 26 from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to3rd Battalion,6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Media with questions about this Marine can contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs Office at (910) 450-7200.
--Spencer Ackerman
Friday, April 27, 2007
caught in a trap, and i can't get out:
Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi -- a longtime bin Laden deputy believed to be a liaison between al-Qaeda in Pakistan(ish) and al-Qaeda in Iraq, as well as between al-Qaeda Prime and the Taliban --is now on his way to Guantanamo Bay. Not much is clear right now about his capture -- such as where and when it took place -- but CIA played a big role in it, and chances are so did Pakistani intelligence. This AP story suggests he was on his way to Iraq, so it'll be interesting to see whether information generated from inside Anbar province played any role in alerting U.S. intelligence to al-Iraqi's planned movement.

Something else to keep an eye out for: how long al-Iraqi spent in CIA custody before his transfer to Guantanamo. Last year, the agency told the White House it wants out of the detentions business, leading to the transfer of the infamous fourteen high-value targets (Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, etc.) in September. It's impossible to believe that CIA didn't subject al-Iraqi to immediate interrogation, and also impossible to believe that it would have handed over the detainee to the Defense Department before it felt it had reached the limits of whatever significant intelligence it believed al-Iraqi had possessed. There's bound to be some redundancy in interrogation when he reaches Guantanamo, but it looks more and more like Guantanamo is become a pure detention facility, rather than a locus for ongoing intelligence operations. (At least for any perishable information.)
--Spencer Ackerman
Listening too long to one song:
My man Eli is in Iraq, and he brings his considerable talents to reporting out connections between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Kurdish Islamists. Osman Ali Mustapha, a Kurdish ex-policeman turned Iranian asset, tells Eli that the head of the IRGC's Qods Force assured him that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backed IRGC efforts to foster terrorism within Iraq.

The piece includes the line, "The account of Mr. Mustapha would settle the question of whether the commander of Iran's Quds Force was acting on his own." Eli notes that General Petraeus didn't go so far in his press conference yesterday with respect to Iran -- and it's worth adding that Kurdish detainees have given dubious accounts before -- but of course isn't inconceivable that Iran would fight a proxy war against the U.S. and its allies in Iraq. Looking back on my earlier writings, it's fair to say that I've not been sufficiently open to this prospect.
--Spencer Ackerman
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCCIII:
No. 491-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jeremy E. Maresh, 24, of Jim Thorpe, Pa., died Apr. 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, from a non-combat related incident.His death is under investigation.

Maresh was assigned to C Battery, 1st Battalion, 213th Air Defense Artillery, Spring City, Pa. For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Pennsylvania Army National Guard at (717) 861-8468.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCCII:
No. 490-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties


The Department of Defense announced today the death of nine soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died Apr. 23 in As Sadah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their location.

Killed were:

1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers, 26, of Hastings, Neb.

Staff Sgt. Kenneth E. Locker Jr., 28, of Wakefield, Neb.

Staff Sgt. William C. Moore, 27, of Benson, N.C.

Sgt. Randell T. Marshall, 22, of Fitzgerald, Ga.

Sgt. Brice A. Pearson, 32, of Phoenix, Az.

Sgt. Michael L. Vaughan, 20, of Otis, Ore.

Spc. Jerry R. King, 19, of Browersville, Ga.

Spc. Michael J. Rodriguez, 20, of Sanford, N.C.

Pfc. Garrett C. Knoll, 23, of Bad Axe, Mich.

All were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at (910) 432-0661.
--Spencer Ackerman
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
can either be a smile or a smirk:
With apologies to my brothers and sisters at American Forces Press Service, I almost always delete their pieces after a quick skim when the Pentagon e-mails them to me. If there's interesting stuff there, I'll get it raw from the transcript anyway, which is either already in my inbox or on its way. Big mistake, as Noah proves here.
--Spencer Ackerman
i'm not demanding the answers now:
Gossip corner! ...Which COUNTERINSURGENCY EXPERT and guaranteed future SECRETARY OF DEFENSE is moving to SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON D.C. to work for one of the ARMED SERVICES? ... Which ACADEMIC SUPERSTAR and MARTIAL STRATEGIST is about to leave the bosom of RED SOX NATION for the more hapless embrace of RFK STADIUM and the ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT? ... Just asking...
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCCI:
No. 485-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Dale G. Peterson, 20, of Redmond, Ore., died April 23 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Peterson was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs Office at (910) 450-7200.
--Spencer Ackerman
Now I see a darkness:
Documenting the impact of sectarian and other violence in Iraq during the surge is a matter of accepting Prop Joe rules: proof is hard to come by. With acrimony over the war at a fever pitch -- in the U.S., in Iraq, and internationally -- every statistic has a political implication, bound to be unwelcome for one faction or another. The simplest method of addressing the problem? Omerta.

Today the United Nations Mission in Iraq released its first human rights report of 2007. UNAMI reports in the past have been controversial. Although largely reliant on official ministry statistics for its portrait of Iraq, UNAMI has been accused by the Iraqi government of painting a bleaker picture than is warranted. This year, with so much at stake for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the government decided it was better not to take any chances. (Warning: PDF)
In its previous reports on the human rights situation in Iraq, UNAMI regularly cited the Iraqi Government's official data, including the Ministry of Higher Education's statistics on killings among academics and the Ministry of Interior's statistics on killings among police officers. It is therefore a matter of regret that the Iraqi Government did not provide UNAMI access to the Ministry of Health's overall mortality figures for this reporting period. UNAMI emphasizes again the utmost need for the Iraqi Government to operate in a transparent manner, and does not accept the Iraqi Government's suggestion that UNAMI used the mortality figures in an inappropriate fashion.
UNAMI still expressed "concern" about ethnic cleansing, internal displacement, endangered minorities, official torture and weak judicial oversight. It dismisses the U.S.'s favored statistic -- a 50 percent drop in sectarian killing since the beginning of the surge -- by saying "the number of victims was nevertheless high, with as many as 25 bodies still being found on some days on the streets of Baghdad." Don't hold your breath for Maliki to become more cooperative for the next report.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCC:
No. 479-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty


The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cpl. Ray M. Bevel, 22, of Andrews, Texas, died Apr. 21 in Yusifiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat patrol operations.Bevel was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-8286.
--Spencer Ackerman
Monday, April 23, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCIX:
No. 474-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty


The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. William W. Bushnell, 24, of Jasper, Ark., died Apr. 21 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade during combat operations.Bushnell was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Bliss public affairs office at (915) 568-4505.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCVIII:
No. 475-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Marlon B. Harper, 34, of Baltimore, Md.,died Apr. 21 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he came in contact with enemy forces using a rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire during combat operations.Harper was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCVII:
No. 473-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Christopher M. North, 21, of Sarasota, Fla., died Apr. 21, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire during combat operations.North was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at (785) 239-3410.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCVI:
No. 471-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died Apr. 18 in Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations.They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

Cpl. Wade J. Oglesby, 27, of Grand Junction, Colo.

Cpl. Michael M. Rojas, 21, of Fresno, Calif.

For more information on these soldiers, contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at (253) 967-0154 or (253) 967-0147.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCV:
No. 472-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Michael J. Slater, 19, of Scott Depot, W. Va., died Apr. 21 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle rolled over during combat operations.Slater was assigned to the 407th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at (910) 432-0661.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCIV:

No. 470-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Chief Warrant Officer Dwayne L. Moore, 31, of Williamsburg, Va., died Apr. 19 in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he came in contact with enemy forces using indirect fire.Moore was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-8286.
--Spencer Ackerman
you've got the moves, you know the streets:
Hearty Flophouse congratulations to Matt Yglesias on his well-earned move to the Atlantic. Matt is the premier political blogger of the age, and he richly deserves the larger audience he's about to receive. Let the Woo-s proliferate.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCIII:
No. 469-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Jeffery A. Bishop, 23, of Dickson, Tenn., died April 20 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.Bishop was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at (910) 450-7200.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCII:
No. 465-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Jason M. Morales, 20, of La Puente, Calif., died April 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire.He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and Fort Riley, Kan.

For further information on this soldier, contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at (785) 239-3410.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXCI:
No. 463-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Jason M. Morales, 20, of La Puente, Calif., died April 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire.He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and Fort Riley, Kan.

For further information on this soldier, contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at (785) 239-3410.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCXC:
No. 457-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Richard P. Langenbrunner, 19, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died Apr. 17 in Rustamiyah, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident.His death is under investigation.

Langenbrunner was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Benning public affairs office at (706) 545-3512; after hours, call (706) 545-2218.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXIX:
No. 450-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Aaron M. Genevie, 22, of Chambersburg, Pa., died April 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

For further information on this soldier, contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at (785) 239-3410.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXVIII:
No. 449-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Apr. 14 in Fallujah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 1451st Transportation Company, 13th Support Command, Iraq.

Killed were:

Sgt. Joshua A. Schmit, 26, of Willmar, Minn.

Sgt. Brandon L. Wallace, 27, of St. Louis, Mo.

For further information on these soldiers, contact U.S. Army Human Resources Command - St. Louis, (314) 592-0726.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXVII:
No. 444-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1st Lt. Shaun M. Blue, 25, of Munster, Ind., died April 16 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-5476.
--Spencer Ackerman
Monday, April 16, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXVI:
No. 441-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Ryan A. Bishop, 32, of Euless, Texas, died April 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

For more information on this soldier, contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-8286.
--Spencer Ackerman
when i get in trouble with language, the fate of the world is what's at stake:
Matt read aloud to me the quoted remarks of Tommy Thompson to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Among them: making money is "part of the Jewish tradition" and, as governor of the state of Wisconsin, he was among the first to buy "Jewish bonds," presumably meaning Israel bonds. Huh? Thompson didn't really say that, did he?

According to Thompson spokesman Tony Jewell, yes. The Thompson 2008 campaign doesn't have a transcript of his remarks, delivered off the cuff, but he said "we're not disputing" the quotes attributed to Thompson by Ha'aretz reporter Shmuel Rosner. I asked Jewell about a Jewish Telegraphic Agency story -- in which Thompson is cited as calling Winston Churchill the first real leader of Israel -- but the spokesman hadn't seen it. (Update to follow as necessary.)

So, what's up with this? "The governor recognizes that he misspoke in his remarks to the Religious Action Center, and he's been very apologetic, especially given his relationship with the Jewish community," Jewell says. He's been encouraged by people e-mailing the campaign to convey a recognition that the remarks "were not smart, but not malicious."

UPDATE: Jewell spoke to Thompson about the JTA story, and he says he's been misquoted about the Churchill reference. "He says he only spoke about Churchill in the context of Iraq," Jewell says. "He absolutely did not speak of Churchill in the context of Israel. As far as I can tell, yes (he was misquoted), he was genuinely surprised to hear that. In his Iraq policy, he wants the United States to help build the political infrastructure by electing territorial provincial governments to build the political infrastructure and make it stronger. Britain was somehow involved in splitting the regions up way back when. That was the only context he spoke of Churchill." And indeed, the governor meant to say "Israel bonds," referring to Wisconsin's purchase of them during Thompson's administration.

Jewell adds, "The governor has apologized. There was no malice, and he has apologized for what he said." So, what did he mean, exactly? "He was complimenting the Jewish community for their accomplishments, and talking about financially, educationally, and as a community."

--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXV:
No. 439-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both died Apr. 12 in Baghdad, Iraq, when their patrol encountered an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Killed were:

Cpl. Cody A. Putnam, 22, of Lafayette, Ind.

Pfc. John G. Borbonus, 19, of Boise, Idaho.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the U.S. Army Alaska public affairs office at (907) 384-1542.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXIV:
No. 438-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Larry R. Bowman, 29, of Granite Falls, N.C., died April 13 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Bowman was assigned to the 513th Transportation Company, 57th Transportation Battalion, 593rd Corps Support Group, Fort Lewis, Wash.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at (253) 967-0152.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXIII:
No. 437-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Santee, 21, of Mission Viejo, Calif., died April 14 from a non-hostile vehicle accident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Santee was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the 2nd Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs Office at (910) 451-3538.
--Spencer Ackerman
Sunday, April 15, 2007
you find you're back in Vegas with a handle in your hand:
The sordid story of Muhammed Shahwani takes a new turn. Shahwani, you'll recall, is the
Iraqi intelligence chieftain, surviving since the halcyon days of Iyad Allawi's tenure as premier. His credentials as a survivor are undermined somewhat by his reported status as a CIA asset. It turns out that the CIA has been distrustful of turning the Iraqi intelligence apparatus over to the Shiite-led government, despite all the sovereignty rhetoric and such. One such concern is that the Maliki government would transform the Iraqi intelligence service into an instrument of sectarian persecution. Meanwhile, Shahwani's Iraqi National Intelligence Service does things that the Maliki government denounces, like detaining Iranian diplomats in Baghdad.

In response, reports Ned Parker in today's L.A. Times, Maliki has created a parallel intelligence service, one that he can control. (Parker confirms that CIA still pays for the INIS, which helps explain those Iran-diplomat detentions.) Sure enough, that service is described by a Western diplomat as "slightly reactionary in a Shiite sense": it's what was behind Maliki's January outburst about "presenting the file" of a hardline Sunni parliamentarian, Sheikh Abdul Nasser Janabi. Needless to say, it doesn't put the Shiite death squads in its cross-hairs. It's difficult to use the term "extra-legal" in a situation like this one, where the ostensibly official INIS gets its money from a foreign intelligence service, but there's no law establishing the authority for the 1,200 operatives loyal to Sherwan Waili, Maliki's intelligence chief.

If Parker's piece is any measure, the rise of Waili will further entrench Shahwani. Waili serves as the manifestation of the fears that led the U.S. to install Shahwani in the first place: the return to a mukhabarat-style security structure, this one loyal to the Shiites instead of Saddam. Quoth an anonymous western diplomat: Waili's operation is "slightly shady." That's true, but the alternative -- U.S. control of INIS -- is what led to Waili's operation in the first place. There's been a lot of talk over the last few months that Maliki is becoming less of a sectarian by acquiescing to the Sadr City raids. If anyone wants to test the proposition, a natural starting point would be to remove Shahwani and see if the removal of Waili's pretext for sectarian "balancing" has any effect.
--Spencer Ackerman
they tell me of a pie up in the sky waiting for me when i die:
Another point of weakness for the Islamic State of Iraq/Al-Qaeda in Iraq: it's... not a state. One would think that declaring a state, as al-Q did in October in Ramadi, would be an excellent, excellent thing for the enemies of al-Q, as it forces al-Q to provide governance tasks clearly beyond its capabilities. Once it can't deliver, it looks weak, it invites ridicule, and the entire sordid enterprise is hurled into debasement. If ever al-Q tries to declare, say, an Islamic State of the Northern Maghreb, competing jihadist bands -- to say nothing of the broader, non-radicalized population -- can point to the ISI and say, erm, well, you know how that turned out the last time... What's not to like?

Not long ago, an AQI jihadist named Uthman bin abd al-Rahman al-Timimi felt compelled to address the problem. His communique, Informing the People About the Birth of the Islamic State of Iraq, doesn't bother defending the ISI's record of governance. Instead, Timimi opts to redefine statehood so radically that the ISI can meet the standard set out merely by its declaratory existence. Brian Fishman of West Point's Combating Terrorism Center translates and summarizes Timimi's arguments here. (PDF)

According to Fishman, Tamimi relies heavily on a concept of Islamic governance unfamiliar to, say, readers of Khomeini, who wrote the book on it. In short, catering to the populace's material needs gets dismissed as un-Islamic, as "improving their conditions is less important than the condition of their religion." In this sense, the ISI is a purely ideational construct: Tamimi argues that the state doesn't need to have a fixed address, since the internet can provide all the contiguity the faithful require. All the ISI really needs to do to meet the conditions of statehood is to provide spiritual guidance; fight its enemies; and adjudicate disputes in an Islamic manner. In other words, there's no difference anymore between a terrorist group and a terrorist state. The caliphate needs no trash collectors. Even the Taliban had a jobs program.

It helps that the ISI engages in such wholesome activities as repeatedly attacking its former allies among Sunni Iraqi insurgent groups. But Tamimi's explication of al-Qaeda's model of Islamic governance is a gift from the heavens in its own right. No amount of U.S. propaganda could do as much toward demonstrating to the world's Muslims -- even the world's non-al-Qaeda jihadis! -- that the end-state al-Qaeda has in mind after its generations of war with the U.S. and its allies won't offer anything to those it rules. Under the caliphate, who will run the web servers?
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXII:
No. 431-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1ST Lt. Gwilym J. Newman, 24, of Waldorf, Md., died April 12 in Tarmiyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire while on dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For further information on this soldier, contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.
--Spencer Ackerman
Friday, April 13, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXXI:
No. 426-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Apr. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Spc. Ismael G. Solorio, 21, of San Luis, Ariz.

Pfc. Brian L. Holden, 20, of Claremont, N.C.

Pvt. Brett A. Walton, 37, of Hillsboro, Ore.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at (719) 526-3420.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXX:
No. 425-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Raymond S. Sevaaetasi, 29, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, died April 11 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXIX:
No. 423-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Kyle G. Bohrnsen, 22, of Philipsburg, Mont., died April 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

For further information on this soldier, contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at (719) 526-3420.
--Spencer Ackerman
Thursday, April 12, 2007
my seeds grow with his seeds:
Don't miss Laura Rozen's piece in MoJo about Kurdistan's emergence as a gateway of for-profit regional gamesmanship.
Plenty of non-Kurds would like to help—and make a little profit along the way. According to lobbying records, the high powered, White House-connected lobbying firm, Barbour Griffith & Rogers, LLC has earned $800,000 promoting the Kurdistan Regional Government’s interests since 2004; before hiring the firm, two U.S. sources say, Michaels had approached Jack Abramoff about representing the Kurds, but the discussions never went beyond the initial stages.

Russell Wilson, a former senior professional staffer for the House international relations committee who helped advise the Kurds on Washington representation and who was formerly listed as a non equity officer in Interop, notes that Kurdistan has many of the things the rest of Iraq lacks: “It’s safe, secure, it’s geographically rich”—features include plenty of unexplored potential oil and natural gas reserves—”and the people are extremely nice.” Wilson says it was he who recommended in the spring of 2004 that the Kurds hire Ed Rogers, a former political director in the Bush I White House, of Barbour Griffith & Rogers as their Washington lobbyist.

--Spencer Ackerman
street by street, block by block, taking it all back:
One of the pleasures of the Green Zone is to walk into the manicured courtyard of the Ocean Cliffs facility, where the press center is located, and linger awhile, free of body armor, on one of the benches next to the fountain. The gates of Ocean Cliffs are well defended by Salvadoran contractors working for Triple Canopy, and past them is a cordoned-off street leading to the sepulchral al-Rashid Hotel. A few minutes of quiet in the courtyard, with the necessary security measures in my peripheral vision, perspective on how tense the Green Zone really is.

And so today someone blew up a Green Zone cafeteria where Iraqi parliamentarians were lunching. No confirmation yet, but the initial reports from AP suggest it was a suicide bomber. If so -- and even if the bomb was planted and detonated remotely -- that means someone in a uniform had to wave the bomber into the parliament building. I didn't visit the parliament, but getting into a facility like the U.S. Embassy chow hall requires passing through several tiers of security. You are scanned and frisked. Your papers are scrutinized. Your companions are questioned. Items on your person are confiscated, even without suspicion of their use for terrorism. It's a likely bet that someone guarding the facility, and quite possibly a beneficiary of our training, equipping and mentoring efforts, wanted the attack to occur.

Making matters worse, a massive truck bomb collapsed the al-Sarafiya bridge in the north of the city. This is the first successful attack with real military significance since the beginning of the surge. There aren't too many ways across the Tigris in that area, and it's bound to have something of a deterrent effect on either resupply or the mobility of U.S. or Iraqi forces who need to get from one side of Baghdad to the other. It may not be major, but it'll be a factor: No one wants to introduce predictability to his or her movements, and the loss of the bridge takes away an option. Add to that the cost of hardening the rest of the city's bridges to ensure that further access doesn't get lost -- which has the effect of frustrating Iraqis who already endure massive traffic snarls at the city's numerous checkpoints -- and we see an insurgent/terrorist strategy developing that displays real military sophistication.

UPDATE: From Time's Brian Bennett:
The metal detectors at the entrance to the Baghdad Convention Center, where Parliament is housed, were not operating Thursday, said the Interior Ministry official, who was suspicious of a wider plot.
If the metal detectors were really inoperative, whoever was in charge of security should have taken supplemental precautions. Bennett reports that the bomber was wearing a suicide vest, which even a half-hearted frisking should have been able to discover.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State of Iraq -- nee al-Qaeda in Iraq -- has taken responsibility for the attack. If Marc is right about the emergent contours of the Sunni insurgent alliance against ISI/AQI, then presumably much of its membership -- namely, the Islamic Army of Iraq and Hamas-Iraq -- won't have much of a problem with blowing up parliamentarians, whom they'd view as collaborators. (Late late update: I initially suggested that the faction of the 1920 Revolution Brigades that didn't become Hamas-Iraq was also anti-ISI, but that was the reason for the split. Sorry.)
--Spencer Ackerman
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXVIII:
No. 414-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams, 25, of Santa Rosa, Calif., died April 8 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire while conducting combat operations in Baqubah, Iraq.Williams was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at (253) 967-0152.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXVII:
No. 412 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died April 8 in Baghdad, Iraq, when their unit came in contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Harrison Brown, 31, of Prichard, Ala.

Pfc. David N. Simmons, 20, of Kokomo, Ind.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Benning public affairs office at (706) 545-3283.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXVI:
No. 410-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cmdr. Philip A. Murphy-Sweet, 42, of Caldwell, Idaho, died April 7, as a result of enemy action in the vicinity of Baghdad.He was operationally assigned to Joint Contracting Command, Multi-National Force - Iraq and was deployed from his permanently assigned command of Naval Inventory Control Point, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

For more information related to this release the media can contact Navy public affairs at (703) 697-5342.
--Spencer Ackerman
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
first we need to truly understand the nature of the threat:
Marc Lynch has an excellent Comment is Free overview of the diminishing fortunes of the Islamic State of Iraq:

Four events within Iraqi Sunni politics over the last week stand out as worthy of attention. First, the 1920 Revolution Brigade split, and changed its name to "Hamas Iraq". The rump faction stressed its Iraqi focus and reassured its Arab neighbours that it had no intentions of pursuing jihad further afield. Second, a meeting of Sunni Iraqi clerics in Amman agreed to form a Council of Iraqi Ulema empowered to issue authoritative fatwas, implicitly criticizing the rulings regularly issuing from the al-Qaida in Iraq leadership. Third, an influential jihadist commentator, Hamid al-Ali, issued an opinion critical of the Islamic State of Iraq. Most importantly, on Thursday the Islamic Army in Iraq - one of the largest and most influential of the insurgency factions - issued a scathing public denunciation of the Islamic State of Iraq and its self-styled caliph, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.

I'd say something more, but Kriston is playing Ras Kass's "Nature of the Threat," which isn't conducive to proper counterterrorism blogging. Anyhow, Marc's got this well in hand.

--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXV:
No. 407-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 09, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Todd A. Singleton, 24, of Muskegon, Mich., died April 8 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For further information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.
--Spencer Ackerman
Monday, April 09, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXIV:
No. 406-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 09, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Adam P. Kennedy, 25, of Norfolk, Mass., died April 8 in Diwaniyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered with his unit came in contact with enemy forces using indirect fire. Kennedy was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the U.S. Army Alaska public affairs office at (907) 384-1542.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXIII:
No. 405-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 09, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died April 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations.They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

Killed were:

Capt. Anthony Palermo, 26, of Brockton, Mass.

Spc. Ryan S. Dallam, 24, of Norman, Okla.

Pvt. Damian Lopez Rodriguez, Tucson, Ariz.

For further information in regard to this release the media can contact the 1st Armored Division public affairs office at 011-49-611-705-4859.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXII:
No. 404-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 09, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Navy Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three sailors who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died April 6 from enemy action while conducting combat operations near Kirkuk, Iraq.

Killed were:

Chief Petty Officer Gregory J. Billiter, 36, of Villa Hills, Ky.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis R. Hall, 24, of Burley, Ind.

Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph A. McSween, 26, of Valdosta, Ga.

All three sailors were assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit Eleven, Whidbey Island, Wash.For more information related to this release the media can contact Navy public affairs at (703) 697-5342.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXXI:
No. 402-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 09, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty


The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1st Lt. Phillip I. Neel, 27, of Maryland, died April 8 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using grenades.His death is under investigation.

Neel was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXX:
No. 400-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 09, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died April 4 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations.They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Pfc. Walter Freeman Jr., 20, of Lancaster, Calif.

Pfc. Derek A. Gibson, 20, Eustis, Fla.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at (719) 526-3420; after hours (719) 526-5500.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXIX:
No. 397-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 09, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died from wounds suffered Apr. 4 in Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Jerry C. Burge, 39, of Carriere, Miss.

Cpl. Joseph H. Cantrell IV, 23, of Ashland, Ky.

Both soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.
--Spencer Ackerman
Friday, April 06, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXVIII:
No. 385-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 06, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. James J. Coon, 22, of Walnut Creek, Calif., died April 4 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when in improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.Coon was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.
--Spencer Ackerman
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXVII:
No. 381-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 04, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Curtis R. Spivey, 25, of Chula Vista, Calif., died April 2 in San Diego of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations on Sep. 16, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq.Spivey was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.
--Spencer Ackerman
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXVI:
No. 375-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 03, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Bradley D. King, 28, of Marion, Ind., died April 2 in Al Amiriyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.King was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Brigade, Marion, Ind.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Indiana Army National Guard at (317) 247-3105.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXV:
No. 374-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 03, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died April 1 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations.They were assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias, 26, of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick, 25, of Spring Hope, N.C.

Sgt. Robert M. McDowell, 30, of Deer Park, Texas.

Spc. William G. Bowling, 24, of Beattyville, Ky.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-8286.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXIV:
No. 373-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 03, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Olsen, 20, of Eagan, Minn., died April 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.Olsen was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Media with questions about this Marine can contact the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-5476.
--Spencer Ackerman
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXIII:
No. 371-01 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 03, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1st Lt. Neale M. Shank, 25, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died Mar. 31 in Baghdad, Iraq, from a non-combat related incident.His death is under investigation.

Shank was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-8286.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXII:
No. 372-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 03, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Miguel A. Marcial III, 19, of Secaucus, N.J., died April 1 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.His death is currently under investigation.

Marcial was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at (910) 451-7200.
--Spencer Ackerman
The morning paper's ink stains my fingers: CCLXI:
No. 370-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 03, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Joe Polo, 24, of Opalocka, Fla., died Mar. 29 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.Polo was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at (719) 526-3420; after hours (719) 526-5500.
--Spencer Ackerman
Monday, April 02, 2007
i'm not the way i thought i was:
The rubiyyat of Zalmay Khalilzad: O, Abu Omar -- did you get rolled?

As a parting gift to the outgoing U.S. ambassador, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani returns to Iraqi politics to forbid backsliding on de-Baathification. Relaxing de-Baathification has been a massive priority for Khalilzad since his 2005 arrival in Baghdad, and he had hoped it to be an achievement crowning his tenure. Yet Nouri al-Maliki managed to outmaneuver Khalilzad by delivering too much of what Khalilzad wanted -- that is, a thoroughgoing rollback of de-Baathification designed to be unacceptable to the Shiite clerisy. Ed Wong:

Advisers to Mr. Maliki, a devout Shiite, said the prime minister had been skeptical that conservative Shiite leaders would support the measure. Before he took office, Mr. Maliki was one of the most vocal champions of the purging of former Baathists. Critics of the prime minister suggested he might have made the announcement last week simply to appear to be offering an olive branch to the Sunni Arabs.

Now that's some cynicism. First Bush stops flirting with dumping Maliki and throws him several high-profile endorsements. Then several thousand additional U.S. forces turn Baghdad into (as much of) a fortress (as it's possible to make it), all to buy time for Maliki to share some of his power. And it turns out he's not gonna.

Final scorecard for Zal. Recall the outgoing U.S. ambassador's March 3 op-ed on the now-stalled oil law:
A national reconciliation that stabilizes Iraq can be achieved if similar compromises are made on the future of de-Baathification and on amending the constitution.
Oil law rancorous. De-Baathification overruled. Amending the constitution behind schedule and in doubt. Much as Ghostface confessed he should have stayed in Job Corps, Khalilzad would be forgiven for feeling he should have stayed in Kabul.
--Spencer Ackerman