Staff Sgt. Jerry Potts, from Company B, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, directs his men to halt during a patrol in Tal Afar, Iraq. Photo by Staff Sgt. James Harper Jr.


NOTE: For more from Tal Afar - Watched "Kiowa Down" on the Military Channel last night, about the rescue of downed Kiowa pilots in that city. Unbelievable. If you didn't see it, you missed out. If it's on again, watch it. One hour that shows you a little bit of just how good our military is.

Listen to the mainstream media and leftie politicians, and you're left with the impression that we're virtually alone in Iraq - that the only countries with troops on the ground are the U.S. and Britain. Over and over again, we hear that we should have gone in with world support, that we should have built a coalition...

But the truth is that there IS a coalition in Iraq -

Despite international opposition, President Bush was able to assemble a diverse coalition of partners for Operation Iraqi Freedom. True, the size of the coalition is smaller than it was in 2003, and Iraqi policy remains a matter of controversy in coalition countries (as in our own). But the coalition is still a military reality on the ground here in Iraq.

The U.S. presently has 26 coalition partners here in Iraq, with a total of over 23,000 troops which are neither American nor Iraqi.

Over at Front Page Magazine is "Three Cheers for the Coalition," an article by deployed National Guardsman Allan Wall. It will tell you the real deal on the coalition forces in Iraq, and how that coalition is partnering to bring stability to a country that desperately needs it. You'll likely never see it on TV, but our troops are working in conjunction with their coalition partners every day:

One night, my unit was carrying out a ground operation. It requested and received air support from an allied military unit.

On another occasion, I personally witnessed a disabled American vehicle being towed to a more convenient location by a recovery vehicle belonging to a coalition partner.

In fact, the coalition presently working in Iraq even includes former enemies, now united with us in their efforts.

So do we have a "real" coalition in Iraq? You bet.

Go check it out.



Linked at the Mudville Gazette's Open Post

U.S. Marine Sgt. Kevin E. Brock (standing, right), a military policeman and squad leader assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), briefs his Marines prior to a security patrol near Camp Taqaddum, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2005.U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser


U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joseph J. Clinton sits atop a Humvee awaiting to depart for a security patrol outside of Camp Taqaddum, Iraq Sept. 22, 2005. Clinton, 20, is a military policeman assigned to Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward). U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser


Military policeman with Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward) conduct a security patrol outside of Camp Taqaddum, Iraq Sept. 22, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser


U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph J. Clinton searches the brush near Camp Taqaddum, Iraq for improvised explosive devices and insurgent activity Sept. 22, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser


U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph J. Clinton searches an area near Camp Taqaddum, Iraq for improvised explosive devices and insurgent activity Sept. 22, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser


U.S. Marine Pfc. Chris L. Clark, a military policeman, keeps a watchful eye during a security patrol outside of Camp Taqaddum, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser

from DefendAmerica

STANDING DUTY— U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jamby Perez, motor transport operator, Headquarters Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division scans the Iraqi desert near Camp Fallujah, Iraq Sept. 24, 2005. Shortly after this photo was taken, Perez’s humvee was struck by an IED. Despite the attack, Perez was able to charge on and continue with the mission.

News of Note
Hurricane Season
Surveying the Damage
The Aftermath
N.O. Return Begins
Bush May Tap Reserve
Pictures: Aerial Shots
Video: Tornadoes - New Orleans Miracle - Costs
Bush calls for conservation as scope of damage from Rita widens
Receding waters from Hurricane Rita reveal ruin; five found dead in Texas

Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Forces Kill No. 2 Terrorist in Iraq
Bomber Kills Nine in Iraq
NATO Head Visits Iraqi Training Facilities
Marine MPs Stay a Step Ahead of Insurgents

Operation Enduring Freedom
Helicopter Crash Kills 5 in Afghanistan
Afghan Army Learns How to Counter IEDs

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Spain Convicts 9/11 Plotter

Troops on Trial
England Convicted of Prisoner Abuse

Moonbat Watch
Sheehan Arrested in D.C.

Other News of Note
Plastic surgery gives injured soldiers new life

Fox News
England Convicted of Prisoner Abuse
U.S. Forces Kill No. 2 Terrorist in Iraq
Bomber Kills Nine in Iraq
NATO Head Visits Iraqi Training Facilities
Israel Sweep Collects 82 Suspected Militants
Sharon Fends Off Challenge
Congress Unprepared to Make Spending Cuts
Ex-FEMA Chief Fesses Up to Katrina Mistakes
Frist: No Inside Information
SEC Chairman Recuses Self
Raw Data: Sen. Frist Statement
Sheehan Arrested in D.C.
FBI Probes Jeter Threats
Court Asked to Reinstate Partial Birth Abortion Ban
Spain Convicts 9/11 Plotter

Reuters: Top News
Israelis strike Gaza after Sharon wins party vote
N.Korea appears to back away on reactor demand
Iran warns atomic opponents trade ties may suffer
Oil dips on signs of plentiful supplies
VIDEO: Guilty Ruling In Abu Ghraib Case
Congress plans to pass stop-gap funding bill

AP World News
Long Road to Ridding North Korea of Nukes
Case Against Former Concorde Chief Opens
Iran Threatens to Resume Enrichment
Iran Criticizes Threat of U.N. Action
UN: Togo Government Violated Human Rights
Canada's Michaelle Jean Was Haiti Refugee
Land Reform Rankles Venezuela Businesses
Prosecutors Nix Tymoshenko Arrest Warrant
Afghan Rebels Change Tactics Amid Losses
New Polish Government to Make Demands

The Seattle Times
6 charged in collapse of Met Mortgage
Critics attack FEMA repayments to religious charities
Roberts expected to be confirmed as chief justice soon
IRA disarmament fails to reassure many Northern Ireland Protestants

Chicago Sun-Times
Spanish court gives man 27 years in connection with Sept. 11
Iraqi rebels line 5 teachers against wall and kill them

Boston Globe: World
5 Shi'ite teachers slain in Iraqi school
Suspected Qaeda chief sentenced on 9/11 charge
Police detain 9 suspects in antiterrorism sweep
Newscast purports to be from Al Qaeda
Thousands of students protest latest bombings in Lebanon
National security adviser urges united front in US terror fight
US military set to assume role in assisting major Iraq ministries
Invest in energy, Africa, conferees urged

CENTCOM: News Release
CITIZEN'S TIP HELPS U.S. SOLDIERS SEIZE WEAPONS CACHE

Department of Defense
U.S. Soldiers Killed; Prisoners to be Released — Story
Chairman Praises Long Line of Warriors — Story
Troops Understand Importance of Mission

ON THE GROUND
Engineers Help Rebuild 'Fractured' Healthcare


FACE OF DEFENSE
Marine Identical Twins Cross Paths in Iraq — Story

TOP NEWS
SPECIAL REPORTS
Hurricane Coverage
Iraq Transition of Power

IN IRAQ
Coalition, Iraqis Score Successes
U.S. Soldiers Thwart Terrorists
U.S. Soldier Killed in Iraq
Iraqis Take Steps for Freedom
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Iraq Daily Update
Multinational Force Iraq
Eye on Iraq Update (pdf)
Iraq Progress Fact Sheet (pdf)
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Army Builds New Rehab Center
Enlisted Honor Chairman, Wife
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Army Casualty — Story

Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Gitmo

National Hurricane Center

Today in History
1290 - An earthquake in China reportedly kills 100,000.
1777 - At the Battle of Germantown, Washington is defeated by the British.
1779 - John Adams negotiates Revolutionary War peace terms with Britain.
1787 - The U.S. Constitution is submitted to the states for ratification.
1821 - Mexico declares its independence.
1825 - Railroad transportation is born with the first track opening in England.
1854 - The Steamship Arctic sinks with 300 people aboard.
1863 - Jo Shelby's cavalry sees action at Moffat's Station, AK.
1910 - In France, the a twin-engined airplane is tested for the first time.
1919 - The Democratic National Committee votes to admit women.
1923 - Lou Gehrig hits his first home run.
1928 - The U.S. recognizes Nationalist China.
1938 - The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth is launched at Glasgow.
1939 - Warsaw, Poland, surrenders to the Germans after 19 days of resistance.
1940 - Black leaders protest discrimination in the U.S. armed forces.
1941 - The freighter Patrick Henry, the first WWII liberty ship, is launched.
1953 - A typhoon destroys 1/3 of Nagoya, Japan.
1954 - In Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD, the integration of public schools begins.
1959 - Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev concludes his U.S. visit; typhoon Vera hits the Japanese island of Honshu, killing nearly 5,000.
1961 - Sierre Leone becomes the 100th member of the U.N.
1962 - The U.S. sells Hawk anti-aircraft missiles to Israel.
1963 - At 10:59 AM, the census clock records a U.S. population of 190,000,000.
1964 - The Warren Commission releases its findings; it states that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
1973 - Soyuz 12 carries two cosmonauts into Earth orbit for a two-day trip.
1979 - The creation of the Department of Education receives final approval.
1985 - Hurricane Gloria's 130 MPH winds hit the Atlantic coast.
1988 - Lab tests reportedly prove that the Shroud of Turin can not be Christ's burial cloth.
1990 - The deposed emir of Kuwait addresses the U.N. General Assembly; the Senate Judiciary committee approves Souter's Supreme Court nomination.
1991 - President George H.W. Bush decides to end the full-time B-52 bomber alert.

Birthdays
1601 - King Louis XIII of France (1610-43)
1657 - Sophia, regent of Russia (1682-89)
1722 - Samuel Adams, American revolutionary/Lt. Gov-MA (1789-94)
1783 - Agust¡n I de Iturbide, emperor of Mexico (1822-23)
1817 - Hiram R., Revels, first African-American U.S. Senator
1840 - Alfred Thayer Mahan, U.S. Naval officer (Influence of Sea Power)
1896 - George H. Bender, (Rep/Sen-OH)
1896 - Sam Ervin (Sen-NC), Watergate committee chairman
1918 - Sir Martin Ryle, radio astronomer, astronomer royal (1972-82)
1919 - Charles H. Percy (Sen-IL)
1952 - Dumitru Prunariu, first Romanian space traveler (Soyuz-40)

Passings:
1956 - Milburn Apt - reaches 3370 kph in X-2 rocket plane, but dies in crash
1962 - Francisco Brochado da Rocha, PM of Brazil (1962)
1984 - John Facenda, sportscaster (NFL Action)
1988 - William V. Shannon, US ambassador to Ireland (1977-81)

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Hall, George R., USAF (MS); RF101 shot down (pilot), released by DRV February, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

1966
Spilman, Dyke A., USAF (NJ); RF4C shot down (systems operator, w/Stine)

Stine, Joseph M., USAF (PA); RF4C shot down (pilot, w/Spilman)

1968
Smith, William A., Jr., US Army (MI); UH1H shot down (aircraft commander)

1969
Fisher, David John, Australian Special Air Forces (AUS); fell from rope during extraction

Huntley, John N., US Army (ME); UH1H shot down (door gunner), KIA, body not recovered