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Hat's Off

John Noonan

To the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as they train up for their 4th deployment since 9/11.

These are the same dudes who rescued Capt Scott O'Grady from Bosnian territory back in 1995.

These guys are elite folks, some of America's finest warriors.

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OUR NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR VICTORY IN IRAQ

The White House

As the central front in the global war on terror, success in Iraq is an essential element in the long war against the ideology that breeds international terrorism. Unlike past wars, however, victory in Iraq will not come in the form of an enemy's surrender, or be signaled by a single particular event -- there will be no Battleship Missouri, no Appomattox. The ultimate victory will be achieved in stages...

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Progress IS Being Made

SGT Ron Long

If you want to know if progress is being made in Iraq, I can tell you, "YES." As the Medic on the MTT (Military Training Team), I was personally involved in the training of hundreds of Iraqi Army troops (and some Iraqi Police).

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Weapons Cache Morning Roundup

Spc. Phil Van Treuren

Check it out: Iraqi Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines, Soldiers and Sailors of the 2nd Marine Division, have discovered 66 weapons caches during the past week in al Anbar.

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Wonderful Community Support

SGT Ron Long

... The weather was freezing, but I had to fight back the tears as a small group of us from the unit marched in the front of the parade down the main streets of Cookeville. The crowds of people were amazing and it seemed like each and every person was waving an American flag.

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Debunk

Sarah

The other day I lost my temper with people who look down their noses at those in the military. Therefore, information on this study caught my attention on the news this morning.

Debunking the myth of the underprivileged soldier

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Bush Won't Back Down

SMASH

Someone forgot to tell President Bush that his poll numbers stink.

Just two days ago, Fred Kaplan (among others) predicted that Bush would set the stage for announcing a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq in a speech at the Naval Academy today.

I watched that speech live on television this morning. Bush made no such announcement. He didn't even hint at it.

Some are calling for a deadline for withdrawal. Many advocating an artificial timetable for withdrawing our troops are sincere, but I believe they're sincerely wrong.
Pulling our troops out before they've achieved their purpose is not a plan for victory. As Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman said recently, "Setting an artificial timetable would discourage our troops because it seems to be heading for the door. It will encourage the terrorists. It will confuse the Iraqi people."
Senator Lieberman is right: Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a message across the world that America is weak and an unreliable ally.
Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a signal to our enemies that if they wait long enough, America will cut and run and abandon its friends.
And setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would vindicate the terrorist tactics of beheadings and suicide bombings and mass murder and invite new attacks on America.
To all who wear the uniform, I make you this pledge: America will not run in the face of car bombers and assassins so long as I am your commander in chief.

This passage illustrates why so many military personnel hold such a strong affection for this Commander-in-Chief. He might wobble and waver on domestic issues like Social Security reform and Supreme Court nominees, but on national security he's solid as a rock. The last thing we want is a Commander-in-Chief who talks tough, but doesn't have the backbone to stay in the fight until the job is done.

Bush isn't backing down. Not. One. Inch.

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Update - Day 1 of Treatment

SC Eagle

... And while I'm thinking about it - how about a medal of some sort for Army wives? (Or spouses as I do know some husbands who are the non-Army type.) They've earned it...

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The Painful Goodbye

Andi Carol

Yesterday, my husband walked out the front door to begin a long journey that will put him in a land far away from home, and far away from me. I will not lie - it hurts. It hurts badly. I can't seem to find my stiff upper lip, I've talked God's ear off and asked repeatedly that he keep my soldier safe. I'm sure he will, but my heart is ~~broken~~ shattered nonetheless.

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Everyday Heroes

Mrs Greyhawk

How often do your hear heroic stories told of our troops... on say CNN or read about them in the New York Times?

Try searching "Hero" in any of the MSM's search window. Try searching "Hero" in Google News or Yahoo news and see what you find.

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Media time again

Phil

Hosting reporters is something of an inconvenience but in this case it was relatively painless. He wanted to write about Iraqi Security Forces and their progress (or lack?), and so we hooked him up with the Military Transition Team that works with our local Iraqi Army brigade. Too easy.

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Operation Iron Hammer begins

Jeff Kouba

In the wake of Steel Curtain near the Syrian border, and all the activity in the Ramadi and Fallujah areas at the eastern end of the ratlines, it made sense to me that there would be a big operation along the Euphrates, and it would probably come somewhere in the middle.

That operation began today. Operation Iron Hammer is underway in Hit, some 65 km northwest of Ramadi.

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I'm a Pentagon Shill

SMASH

MAX SAWICKY implies that I'm a paid Pentagon propagandist (say that five times fast).

Cool!

Where's my check?

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Mistaken Identity

US Army Captain

I just got back from my third deployment from Iraq on Friday, and I happened to be at the dentist and saw a completely offensive ad from the idiots at MoveOn.org this morning. Anyway, it is a Bush-bashing ad that pretends to be arguing for American soldiers families as they will miss the holidays and it shows turkey and crying wives and blames Bush for it all.

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Pace defends use of white phosphorus

Associated Press

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the incendiary agent is used primarily as a flare, to light up a target for airstrikes, and as a shield of smoke to hide troop movements.

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Norfolk gets new Navy unit

Jack Dorsey, The Virginian-Pilot

The Military Sealift Command has established in Norfolk the Military Sealift Fleet Support Command , which includes about 5,000 members -- 4,000 civilian mariners assigned worldwide, 400 civilian support staff and about 200 military members.

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CRUMP!

Capt B

Silent, dark...a bit chilly, then the most annoying sound you can imagine blaring in my ear. The alarm clock! Strategically, I smack it down but its china made plastic makes it durable as only for it to roll under my rack and continue to blare its annoying noise. I get moving stand up... Crump!

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Border Crossing

Land Warrior

We crossed the border at a breach made by one of our heavy companies. The berm was basically pushed into the tank ditch to fill it in and we just drove through and into Iraq. The horizon was filled with the glow of burning vehicles, all of which we hoped we Iraqi, and periodically a flash would illuminate the night announcing someone else had just reported to their heaven or hell. I was there. After all the time training and preparing I was actually in Iraq. I was the picture on the television.

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Highly Motivated

SC Eagle

Had a meeting at the unit today. Present were myself, the First Sergeant, Commander, and various other leaders. Spelled out, again, that I need only ask for whatever I need. Also, they felt that the moving in 8 days was not NEARLY fast enough!

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Lift Up Optimism to Push Back Fear!

LinkedInUSAF

When did we, those who have served, those who are serving now, those who have loved ones that have served, those who have loved ones serving now, ever take the easy way? It is a far greater thing to lead everyone with optimism, charity, fidelity, camaraderie, inclusion - far greater, and much harder. That, my friends, is the essence of leadership. I believe that this is what is missing today and must be faced head on for the greatest reward: freedom.

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Simple Things...

Matt Lagrone

My boss, or "Team Chief" just made my day much better. He had to make a trip to Baghdad earlier today. Upon his return he has been telling me he had a "suprise" for me all afternoon. With great anticipation I received my "gift" a few moments ago and it was a...

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Morning Muster

SMASH

Senior Airman Brad Cameron / U.S. Air Force

NOTES

ADOPT-A-VILLAGE Airmen fighting the global war on terrorism from nearby Bagram Air Base took time to spread cheer and share smiles with the people of a local village.

NUCLEAR ARSENAL Congress turned the country in a new direction this month by giving millions of dollars for a program aimed at producing a smaller arsenal of more reliable warheads.

RECRUITING BONUSES National Guard soldiers can earn up to $2,000 in bonuses for every person they sign up under a recruiting program announced Nov. 28.

LA MADDALENA CLOSURE In a move to adjust its forces to meet current and future readiness needs in the European theater, the United States and Italy have decided to remove U.S. Navy forces from La Maddalena, Sardinia.

COMMUNITY SERVICE The aircraft carrier George Washington has earned plaudits for the 25,000 hours of community service the crew donated to its temporary home of Newport News, Va., during a yearlong maintenance period at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard.

INTEL SUMMARY

FOREIGN FIGHTERS The U.S. is seeing significantly fewer foreign fighters on the battlefields of Iraq, because the coalition has killed or captured scores of terrorists in recent months and is doing a better job of securing the long border with Syria.

IRAQ HOSTAGES Al-Jazeera broadcast video Tuesday of four Western peace activists held hostage by a previously unknown group, part of a new wave of kidnappings police fear is aimed at disrupting next month's elections.

BANGLADESH BOMBINGS At least nine people have been killed and 40 wounded in two bomb attacks near court houses in Bangladesh, police say.

FRANCE WARNS IRAN French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin warned Iran's clerical government on Tuesday to accept the latest European offer on its controversial nuclear program, or brace itself for a confrontation with the United Nations Security Council.

OUTREACH TO IRAN The United States has affirmed that its envoy to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, would make contacts with Iran but stressed that the dialogue would focus on Iraq and have little impact on ruptured bilateral ties.

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES Following the United Nations' recent adoption of a North Korea human rights resolution, a partially U.S. government-funded convention condemning Pyongyang's rights abuses will take place in Seoul next week, indicating the international community's tougher stance on the rights situation in the North.

VENEZUELA ELECTION Three Venezuela opposition parties have pulled out of Sunday's congressional poll, accusing the electoral body of favouring pro-government candidates.

ROLL CALL

POST: Off topic comments and trackbacks welcome here.

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Mini-UAVs Patrolling Bases Now

John Noonan

The Raven, a mini-UAV, is being used out at Vandenberg AFB for patrolling purposes. Vandenberg is a gigantic base, home to the "Western Range" for lifting satellites into polar orbit, testing ICBMs, and home plate for missile defense shield testing (I'll probably make it my next "base in focus").

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Military Families Take Notice

lovemytanker

Traumatic Injury Protection Under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (TSGLI)

TSGLI is a program that provides automatic traumatic injury coverage to all servicemembers covered under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program...

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Pride

SGT. B.

... As he was removing the protective plastic and paper, I silently remonstrated with myself. I wasn't seeing past the moment. I needed to develop a sense of perspective to appreciate what my friend was showing me.

He produced the jumper shirt, made of navy blue wool. His rating insignia, on the sleeve, gold chevrons and rockers of a Petty Officer First Class, with the snow white eagle in the middle, as well as service stripes down the sleeve, gleamed in the light. You get gold insignia instead of red if you have behaved yourself, or so the tale goes...

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"Quitting is not an exit strategy"

Donald Rumsfeld

Quitting is not an exit strategy. It would be a formula for putting the American people at still greater risk. It would be an invitation for more terrorist violence. Indeed, the more the enemies make it sound as though the United States is going to quit, the more encouraged they will be and the more successful they will be in recruiting and in raising money and in trying to wait us out.

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Our Troops Must Stay

Joe Lieberman

I have just returned from my fourth trip to Iraq in the past 17 months and can report real progress there. More work needs to be done, of course, but the Iraqi people are in reach of a watershed transformation from the primitive, killing tyranny of Saddam to modern, self-governing, self-securing nationhood--unless the great American military that has given them and us this unexpected opportunity is prematurely withdrawn.

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Range Day

Risawn

Well, in other news, I finally went to the range today to qualify. I'll be brief and to the point. 19 out of 20 in the Prone Supported (this seems to be rather consistent). 16 out of 20 in the Prone Unsupported. 35 out of 40, Sharp Shooter baby! WooHOO! Which brings me up in the Order of Merit list and guarantees me a slot in the next Schutzenshnur!

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Fixing a School

Major John

The school had been built in 1994 by a wealthy donor from the United Arab Emirates. When the Taliban fought their way up the Dasht-e-Bagram, they got to the school and promptly ruined it. The villagers managed to scavenge the remains of the roof and ended up using it for firewood. All that remained was the wall - the roof, floor and furniture were all gone.

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would you go back?

Delobius

Going from the "yes sir/no sir", brevity codes and roger-out mentality of the Army to my civilian job at the University of Minnesota is about the most gigantic culture shift imaginable. Frankly, it's sometimes frustrating to deal with people who don't have the same ideas about efficiency and direct action; I know that's the "real world" and I have to deal with it, but I'll pitch a bitch all the same.

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A Year Ago

PeteL

I was in Herat on Thanksgiving. Actually I spent the day in a helicopter (Russian Mi-17) between Herat and Khandahar. Had MRE's for lunch on the ramp at Herat, and flew into Khandahar for dinner. Of course, by the time we go to there, I had a migraine of epic proportions. I went to the DFAC (Dining Hall) and got food, which looked great, but could not eat.

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Thoughts of A Soldier's Mom in a Time of War...

Some Soldier's Mom

We mothers joke that we would go over and cook, clean and do laundry for our sons and daughters, but the truth is, we would trade places with them in a heartbeat to keep them safe. To keep them from being hot, cold, hungry, tired, sore and from being shot at or being blown up. I have never had more enthusiastic agreement from military moms than when I say that sending a child to war really is the most counterintuitive thing a parent can ever do.

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On War

Clark Baker

War is serious business. In 2001, America committed herself to war just as our warriors committed themselves to victory. That some Americans today behave like hysterical women is understandable. That others exploit their hysterics for political gain is Machiavellian, at best.

War is ugly. War is dangerous. War is hell. And if you commit to war, it must be won.

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Junior Enlisted but Center of Attention

SC Eagle

It is going to take some time to get used to my phone ringing and Captains and Majors being on the other end of the line. Company commanders, clinic commanders, head nurses, battalion commanders... these are all people who are not in the habit of calling junior Soldiers. I certainly am not used to being on their call lists.

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Weird Tax Laws

Edward Smith

This year, my income is not taxable due to being deployed. I knew that I didn't really benefit from the tax-free status. What I didn't know is that being deployed will prevent me from contributing to my Roth IRA for the year. One of the rules is that you can only contribute up to 100% of your taxable income. So if you have no taxable income, you can't contribute.

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Lies My Congressman Told Me

airforceguy

For those of you who don't know, I was a member of the infamous Iraq Survey Group (ISG) in 2003 - 2004, while it was under the steady hand of Dr David Kay, former Chief Weapons Inspector of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), MSM Executive, and midget. He really is a midget. Not a mental midget, but a physical midget.

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Slow day = good day

Phil

Today was a slow day, which means that it was a good one. Our partnered IA bubbas handled a couple of IED situations, but nothing that merited our attention. It is encouraging to see the Iraqis take care of IEDs without any help from us. There was a time when we had to do all of that sort of thing by ourselves.

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Early Present

Lucky

Great news...I'm not sure why, or how, but out of the blue today the computer police suddenly gave up access to blogs here in Qatar. Not only that, but I now have access to my OWN blog, so I can upload pictures and make things a hell of a lot more interesting (at least to me) on here.

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Work

Jack Army

Today was my first full day at work. I felt like I was drinking from a firehose, but that's the way it's supposed to be, right? I find that period where the old guy isn't gone yet but the new guy isn't quite in charge yet to be a challenge to my patience. I will tell you this about my new unit: I have never met a group of guys from the top down who were so happy to be in a unit. I've heard nothing but good stuff and that surprises me. Usually you get that guy that is so disgruntled that he can't wait to complain to the new folks. Not here.

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Morning Muster

SMASH

Ali Yussef / Agence France-Presse / Getty Images

NOTES

BAQUBAH RAID In an early morning cordon and search mission near Baqubah, Soldiers detained nine suspected terrorists and seized fuses used for detonating explosives along with several anti-aircraft artillery rounds.

KIRKUK CACHE Soldiers discovered more than 2,700 mortar rounds near an abandoned Iraqi Army base south of Kirkuk Nov. 27.

FALLUJAH RECONSTRUCTION For U.S. forces in Iraq, few challenges are as daunting - or perhaps as important - as the attempt to transform this bitter Sunni city into a model for counter-insurgency success.

SUEZ TRANSIT Expeditionary Strike Group 8 passed through the Suez Canal Nov. 26, entering the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to conduct maritime security operations and support further tasking from the U.S. Central Command.

QUAKE RELIEF Nearly 200 Okinawa-based Marines and sailors set up camp Nov. 15 in the northern city of Shinkiari, Pakistan, to provide medical treatment and humanitarian aid to those affected by the massive Oct. 8 earthquake.

TSGLI Servicemembers will be enrolled in a new program Dec. 1 that will expand benefits provided through Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance. The traumatic SGLI benefit provides payouts of up to $100,000 for servicemembers with traumatic injuries.

INTEL SUMMARY

BENGAL TERROR THREAT Bangladesh tightened security in the capital's diplomatic area after the British High Commission said it had received a bomb threat from a man who claimed to be a member of al Qaeda, police said on Monday.

TABLIGHI JAMAAT According to the French Tablighi expert Marc Gaborieau, its ultimate objective is nothing short of a "planned conquest of the world" in the spirit of jihad.

TERROR FAMILY TIFF Iraq's al Qaeda on Monday blasted the Jordanian tribe of its leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for disowning him after his group claimed triple suicide bombings in Amman which killed 57 people this month.

IRAN'S URANIUM "The enrichment of uranium is Iran's internal affair," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said at a press conference during a visit to Azerbaijan. "It is the right of any state and no force can prevent the state from exercising this right."

IRAN DEFIES EUROPE Iran rejected late Monday European requests that it move parts of its nuclear enrichment program out of the country and allow enrichment of uranium to be carried out in Russia.

NORTH KOREA EXECUTION VIDEO In a commentary by its official Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang said the execution footage was "full of sheer lies" and accused CNN of airing the tape at the instigation of the US government as part of an alleged psychological campaign to overthrow the regime.

ROLL CALL

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They Want Us to Fail

SMASH

ANOTHER anti-victory protest was held over the weekend, along the Coast Highway in Carlsbad.

Hayne Palmour IV -- North County Times

About 400 people dressed in black and lined up along the highway, each with the name of a dead serviceman pinned to their chest. These men and women, who pretend to speak on behalf of the dead, claim that they are "supporting the troops" by demanding that we "Bring their Buddies Home."

The truth, however, is that they don't support the troops at all.

Jeeni Criscenzo, who organized this event, wrote the following last April:

I challenge anyone to prove that the people of Iraq are better off today than they were 18 months ago. Back then more Iraqi people were gainfully employed, and had electricity and clean water. Unless they'd ticked off Saddam or his progeny, most Iraqi's [sic] could walk outside their homes without fear of being kidnapped or shot. Their museums still held exquisite artifacts from the beginning of civilization. Their children were going to school and Iraqi women enjoyed one of the most liberated societies in the Arab world.

Yes, Jeeni is a proud member of the "Iraqis were better off under Saddam" crowd.

I'm sure that Criscenzo (who is running for Congress) would argue that she "supports the troops" by demanding their immediate and safe return to their homes and families. Which is really just a nice way of saying we should abandon the people of Iraq to the likes of Zarqawi and his Baathist allies. Because Jeeni and her friends never supported the war in the first place, you see.

As your representative, I will demand that our kids are brought home from this illegal, imperialist occupation where nothing good can come from one more day being there. And I will make certain that, as part of our exit strategy, the war profiteers who put us in Iraq, will foot the bill for reparations, and are forbidden from ever getting another opportunity to bilk American taxpayers.

In other words, they want us to fail.

» Dean's World fires back with They Want Us To Fail

» MaxSpeak, You Listen! fires back with WHY DO THEY HATE AMERICA

» Posse Incitatus fires back with Defeatists and fascist apologists

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THE LITTLE ONES

Capt B

It's 1000 am and nice out for a winter day. I watch the cigar smoke rise as I sit under the camie netting and see the sun poking through. It's quiet, peaceful, and scary how quickly it can turn ugly. That thought is gone now and we are flying out the gate on yet another convoy. Chest tight and ready for anything. "Where are you, you little SOBs, I know your out here," I think to myself.

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Private US firm to patrol Somali waters?

Eagle1

Must be an interesting contract to read, in which a US marine security firm has agreed with the transitional Somali government to patrol Somali waters and help stop the wave of piracy and other activities taking place there...

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The Honest Broker

Major K.

There were protests the other day over the murder of a fairly prominent Sunni Sheikh here in Baghdad. The murderers were dressed in Iraqi Army uniforms and it happened in a sector patrolled by the Iraqi Army. The Iraqi Brigade Commander tried to meet with the family of the Sheikh and the protesters to try to calm the situation. He made little progress as he was not trusted by the Sheikh's relatives. This matter was immediately elevated to the highest military levels on both the American and Iraqi sides. Several Iraqi Officers here in the TOC suggested repeatedly that American involvement was necessary to calm the situation. Yes, an Iraqi Commander should meet with the protestors, but he must be accompanied by a Senior American Officer. Although most Americans considered this an internal Iraqi matter, many Iraqis did not share that opinion. Neither side appeared to trust the other and wanted American involvement to ensure fair treatment.

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BE ADVISED

Mark Partridge Miner

There are various e-mails circulating that claim to be written by American soldiers. These e-mails typically will say, "from/by the soldiers of the (Unit)." These fake e-mails ask Americans to contact their leaders and to forward the e-mail to as many people as they can.

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MND CS COMPLETES ROAD IN AL HILLAH

CENTCOM

Multinational Division Central-South Soldiers completed a new road in al Hillah.

Before the project, the area was a dirt road which turned to mud after every rain. The project, prepared by Salvadorian soldiers, lasted 30 days and consisted of hardening the ground and laying 1250 meters of asphalt.

Since the start of the mission in Iraq, the Salvadorian soldiers completed 78 projects worth more than $3 million. Additional projects are ongoing.

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Standing Ovation

Lucky

We had our "Operation Season's Greetings" (http://www.afrc.af.mil/hq/band/osg/) visit last night. The Air Force reserve band started great but kind of fizzled, and the New England cheerleaders were, well, cheerleaders, but there were only four of them there. I stayed for John Popper, former lead singer of Blues Traveler. Even though his band only had a couple of big hits he was phenomenal.

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Interview with Matt, Military Blogger Blackfive

Milblogging.com

Last week, I had the honor and privilege of interviewing Matt, the Miltary Blogger Blackfive - in my first of many interviews with military bloggers.

This is a transcript of the interview that has NOT been edited.

JP, HOST: You have started a milblog that has gathered a Survivor-like following on the internet. Why did you start milblogging?

MATT: A good friend of mine, Major Mathew Schram, was killed on Memorial Day, 2003. In fighting his way out of an ambush, he saved the life of a Newsweek reporter who never wrote a story about Mat.

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/05/one_year.html

Newsweek really pissed me off and I started blogging about the good, the bad, the humorous and the ugly of military life because most MSM outlets like Newsweek weren't. If it didn't fit the template of "Bush sucks, the war sucks, the military is failing", then it didn't get published by most of the MSM.

Soon after the start of Blackfive, there was a distinct void of coverage of what was actually happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. My friends were sending emails that were contradicting what I was reading in the NYTimes and the WashPo. So I started posting those.

Read the entire transcript of the interview here.

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Morning Muster

SMASH

David Furst / Agence France-Presse / Getty Images

NOTES

MILITARY THANKSGIVING U.S. troops around the world marked the holiday in a variety of ways, serving a traditional turkey meal to Serb schoolchildren in Kosovo, dining on food ladled out by senior officers in Afghanistan and staging a parade of makeshift floats in Kyrgyzstan.

IRAQ DRAWDOWN The White House for the first time has claimed possession of an Iraq withdrawal plan, arguing that a troop pullout blueprint unveiled this past week by a Democratic senator was "remarkably similar" to its own.

CONGRESSMEN HURT IN IRAQ A military vehicle carrying three congressmen overturned on the way to the Baghdad airport, injuring two of them, the U.S. Embassy said.

ARMY-NAVY GAME This year's Army-Navy game might come down to whether Army's defense can stop Navy's running attack.

INTEL SUMMARY

SADDAM'S ATTORNEY Ramsey Clark, a controversial figure who was the top U.S. attorney in the late 1960s before becoming an anti-Vietnam war activist and a defender of figures including Slobodan Milosevic, said he hoped to strengthen Saddam's defense.

FIGHTING TERROR IN EUROPE EU leaders agreed on a Code of Conduct on fighting terrorism with their mostly Muslim southern neighbours, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

AXIS OF EVIL The Iranian government is said to have offered North Korea an economic aid package in exchange for continuing to cooperate on the development of nuclear-tipped missiles.

IRAN PRESIDENT STUMBLING Critics say the 1980s-style radicalism of ultraconservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is hurting Iran at home and abroad -- to the point that even his natural allies in parliament have rejected his three choices to run the all-important oil ministry.

IRAN TRAINS CHECHEN TERRORISTS Teams of Chechen fighters are being trained at the Revolutionary Guards' Imam Ali training camp, located close to Tajrish Square in Teheran, according to Western intelligence reports.

NORTH KOREA REACTOR North Korea will demand that the U.S compensates it for economic and political losses after the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization decided to end a project to build two light-water reactors in the Stalinist country.

ROLL CALL